What was the Millennium Drought?
The Millennium Drought was a severe, long-lasting drought in southeastern Australia, from about 1997 to 2009. It was one of the worst droughts on record and caused water shortages in major cities and farming regions.
The drought affected much of Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and southern Queensland. Rainfall was well below average for many years.
River flows in the Murray-Darling Basin fell sharply. Some wetlands dried out, and the lower lakes near the Murray Mouth became very low, causing environmental damage.
Cities under water restrictions
Cities such as Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney introduced strict water restrictions. People were limited in watering gardens and washing cars.
In response, governments built desalination plants in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and the Gold Coast. Households installed rainwater tanks and water-saving devices.
The drought ended with heavy rains and floods in 2010 and 2011, linked to a strong La Nina. It changed how Australians think about water use and led to reforms in water management.
Water storage levels in some city dams fell below 30 percent during the worst years.