The Monthly Water Report provides a statewide monthly summary of the status of water resources and water supplies. Each month's report is published online towards the end of the following month. It is based on data provided by Victoria's 19 urban and rural water corporations.

Rainfall

Rainfall totals were close to the long-term July average across most of Victoria. Above average rainfall for July was received in southwest Victoria, and isolated patches across the state. Central, north west and north eastern Victoria received below average rainfall for the month.

Streamflows

Close to average rainfall across most of the state caused a slight improvement in streamflows this month, however many were below the July average.

Flows less than the 10% of the long-term July average were recorded at 16 of the 28 representative gauging stations, including four stations where there were no flows.

The highest flow recorded at a gauging station was 65% of the long-term July average on the Rose River at Matong North.

Storage Volumes

Most storage levels showed some signs of recovery this month, with average rainfall received across much of the state in June and July. The total volume in the state’s major storages increased to 16.8% of capacity.

Melbourne's storages increased by 1% over the month to 27% of capacity. Regional water storages had increased by 3.1% to 15.4% of capacity at the end of July.

Restrictions on Urban Water Supplies

North East Water removed restrictions on Harrietville, Wandiligong, Bright and Porepunkah on 22 July.

A total of 333 Victorian towns were on restrictions on 31 July 2009. Of these, 80 towns were on Stage 1 restrictions, 30 were on Stage 2, 52 were on Stage 3, 19 on Stage 3a, 105 on Stage 4 with general exemptions and 47 on Stage 4.

Approximately 190 towns were not on water restrictions but were subject to Permanent Water Saving Rules.

Irrigation Allocations

G-MW made its first allocation announcement for the 2009/10 season on 1 July. The season opened with a 0% allocation for high-reliability water shares (HRWS) on all northern systems.  Allocations remained at 0% after the second announcement on 15 July.

The latest outlook for the 2009/10 season was released by G-MW on 15 July. All northern Victorian systems are expected to have zero seasonal allocation on 15 August 2009. G-MW will make the next allocation announcement on 3 August.

The seasonal allocation on the Coliban Rural System will be announced on 15 September. The allocation for the Wimmera-Mallee irrigation supply system is zero per cent.

In southern Victoria, the seasonal allocation for the Werribee and Bacchus Marsh irrigation districts opened at 2% of HRWS. This allocation is guaranteed until 30 November 2009.

At the end of the month, Lake Glenmaggie was at 21.6% of capacity.  The irrigation season for the Macalister Irrigation District opened on 1 July with a 30% allocation for HRWS, and was at 40% at the end of the month. The irrigation share of Blue Rock was 429 ML at the end of July.

Restrictions on Unregulated Streams

At the end of July, diversions from a total of 139 unregulated streams and lakes across the state were subject to restrictions. This is close to the same time last year when 130 streams were on restriction.

Seasonal Climate Outlook

The Bureau of Meteorology released its rainfall outlook for August to October on 24 July. The outlook reports a moderate shift in the odds favouring drier than normal conditions for western Victoria. The chances of exceeding the median rainfall in western Victoria are between 30% and 40%. The chances of a wetter than average season in southeast Victoria remain between 40 and 50%.

The Bureau issued its latest ENSO Wrap-Up on 22 July 2009. The Bureau continues to report a high probability overall of an El Niño event during 2009, likely to result in below average rainfall for southeast Australia.