After weeks of prayers for any drop of water, the Bureau of Meteorology has issued a warning for possible damaging thunderstorms, heavy rain and a risk of flash flooding in the ACT on Thursday.
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The chance of rain is high at 95 per cent, with a downpour of up to 30 millimetres possible over the day. The bureau warns the rain could lead to flash flooding in the afternoon and evening.
Overnight, the ACT received one millimetre of rain.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday and particularly Monday also look like being wet.
As the weather changes, Icon Water is assuring the public the hoped for heavy rain will not taint drinking water.
In Sydney, there are fears that sediment and slurry from burnt areas will get into dams which supply the city with drinkable water. WaterNSW has put special filter curtains and booms into one dam to keep sludge out.
But Icon Water says pollution is unlikely in Canberra partly because the bushfires have not been close to the catchment areas for the capital's drinking supply.
After the 2003 fires, Canberra's water became cloudy, with increases in iron and manganese. Icon Water said that this would not happen this time because the company had learnt lessons from 2003 and invested in treatment equipment.
Icon Water juggles the source of supply between the three big dams supplying Canberra, according to levels and clarity. They can even take water from different levels within the dam, according to analyses of its suitability. There are then treatment plants between the dam and consumer. A hundred consumers in the ACT supply water for testing.
Managers were hoping that enough water comes to replenish dried-out dams. Rain also reduces demand by watering Canberra's gardens and dousing dirty cars.
"Every drop counts," Ben Bryant, the company's manager for environment and sustainability said.
But it would need a sustained downpour over a long period to radically change the situation.
"In the longer term, if we experience a return to average rainfall, that would really make a difference to our storage levels," Davina McCormick, Icon Water's general manager for customer engagement, said. She said 100 millimeters over the coming days would make a difference (though that's more than forecast).
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Apart from drinking water, the authorities are warning about run-off from roofs. The bureau said rain might pollute with "ash, dust and other material from your roof washing into your tank."
But whatever the downside, everybody is welcoming rain, even with the Bureau's advice that it may be sporadic and not drench the whole of the ACT.
The NSW Rural Fire Service tweeted: "If this rainfall forecast comes to fruition then this will be all of our Christmas, birthday, engagement, anniversary, wedding and graduation presents rolled into one."
Steve Evans
Steve Evans is a reporter on The Canberra Times. He's been a BBC correspondent in New York, London, Berlin and Seoul and the sole reporter/photographer/paper deliverer on The Glen Innes Examiner in country New South Wales. "All the jobs have been fascinating - and so it continues."
Steve Evans is a reporter on The Canberra Times. He's been a BBC correspondent in New York, London, Berlin and Seoul and the sole reporter/photographer/paper deliverer on The Glen Innes Examiner in country New South Wales. "All the jobs have been fascinating - and so it continues."
