The provided bar chart delineates the comparative water levels in reservoirs across six Australian cities, measured in October 2009 and October 2010.
Overall, the data reveal divergent trends among the cities, with some experiencing notable increases, while others recorded declines. Notably, Darwin and Brisbane saw slight rises, whereas Perth, Canberra, Sydney, and Melbourne all registered decreases in reservoir levels over the specified period.
In October 2009, Perth reported a reservoir capacity of 40%, which subsequently fell to 30% in October 2010, representing a significant reduction of 10 percentage points. Similarly, Canberra’s water levels declined sharply from 60% to 35% over the year, a drop of 25 percentage points. Sydney also witnessed a decrease, albeit more moderate, falling from just under 60% to 50%, a reduction of nearly 10 percentage points. Melbourne’s reservoirs likewise diminished from just over 60% to just under 50%, a decline of approximately 10 percentage points.
Conversely, two cities exhibited upward trends during the same timeframe. Darwin’s water levels rose marginally, from just under 70% in October 2009 to just above 70% in October 2010, indicating a slight increase of approximately 2 percentage points. Brisbane experienced a more substantial growth, climbing from just above 60% to nearly 70%, an upturn of around 8 percentage points. Consequently, by October 2010, Darwin held the highest reservoir levels among the six cities, while Perth recorded the lowest.