The Monthly Water Report provides a summary of the status of Victoria's water resources and water supplies at the end of the reporting month. It is based on validated water resource information provided by Victoria's 19 Urban and Rural Water Corporations and the Bureau of Meteorology. Each month's report is published online the following month. For detailed, specific and up-to-date information, please contact the relevant Water Corporation or the Bureau of Meteorology. Links to these organisations are located within the Monthly Water Report. 

Rainfall

Rainfall was average for most of Victoria.  Parts of the Alpine District and northern Victoria received above average rainfall, and much of southwest Victoria received below average rainfall.  

Streamflow

Rainfall totals were average for December, but were lower than those experienced in November, and there was a decline in end-of-month stream flows at many stations. Only two of 28 gauging stations recorded above average end-of-month flows, compared to 11 last month. 

Storages

The total volume of water in most of Victoria’s major storages decreased this month.  By the end of December, Victoria’s major storages were at 85.6% of total capacity.

The total volume of water in Victoria’s major regional storages decreased to 89% and Melbourne’s storage levels rose to 66.5%.

Restrictions on Urban Water Supplies

On 1 December, Melburnians returned to Stage 1 water restrictions for the first time since 2006. Western Water reduced Stage 2 water restrictions for its towns (including Woodend, Gisborne, Bacchus Marsh, Melton and Sunbury) to Stage on 6 December, in line with Melbourne.

At the end of the month, 29 Victorian towns were still on restrictions.  This is much less than this time last year, when 154 towns were still subject to water restrictions.

Irrigation Allocations

All G-MW systems in northern Victoria have reached the maximum allocation for HRWS for 2011/12, and the Campaspe, Broken and Bullarook systems have reached the maximum allocation for LRWS.

In the southern irrigation districts, the allocation for Macalister HRWS increased to 95%. The Werribee/Bacchus Marsh allocation remained at 100% HRWS and 30% LRWS.

Restrictions on Unregulated Streams

Diversions from 21 unregulated streams across the State are subject to restrictions at the end of December.  This is higher than the same time last year when 13 streams were still subject to some form of restriction on diversions.

Seasonal Climate Outlook

The Bureau of Meteorology’s latest rainfall outlook for January to March 2012 indicates the the chances of a drier or wetter summer are roughly equal.

The Bureau reports that ENSO conditions in the central Pacific Ocean are consistent with a La Niña event.  However, it appears that the event is near its peak, and is much weaker than that of 2010/11.