THE STATE OF THE MELBOURNE WATER SUPPLY. LXXIX. 
suffice for the requirements of the lower levels, but when the daily 
consumption of water exceeds the supply from those sources the 
waters of the Acheron will be availed of to make up the deficiency. 
It is estimated that the full amount of 7 million gallons per day 
will only have to be availed of during periods of high consumption, 
and that during a considerable part of the year there will not be 
any necessity to take any water at all from the Acheron. In the 
summer provision can be made by means of compensation water 
to secure ample supplies for domestic purposes for those dependent 
on the Acheron.” 
The Coranderrk Creek drains an area of about 7 square 
miles to the south of the Watts’ River watershed. It is 
proposed to divert the water from this area amounting to 
about 3 million gallons per day, by a pipe conduit 4 miles 
in length delivering into the Maroondah aqueduct. The 
walls of this aqueduct are now being raised and strengthened 
to enable it to carry from 28 to 30 million gallons per day. — 
As the lowest parts have been raised first, the aqueduct 
now brings about 14 million gallons more water daily to 
the Preston reservoir than ever before. The result is that 
up to 24 million gallons of water have come from the 
Maroondah system to meet the daily demands of the 
metropolis, and it has been necessary therefore to draw 
upon the Yan Yean reservoir to only a very slight extent. 
Recently the water flowing down the Maroondah aqueduct 
has been within two inches of the top of the bank. 
The Acheron River takes its rise in the mountains north 
of the Watts’ River and the stream ultimately finds its 
way into the Goulburn River. The mountains here attain 
an elevation of over 3,000 feet. It is proposed to divert the 
water of this river from an area of about 9 square miles, 
and lead it round to a low saddle in the dividing range 
separating the Acheron from the Watt’s River catchment 
area where the altitude is 1,628 feet. The water being 
