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

October rainfall was below average across most of Victoria, with the exception of East Gippsland, where rainfall exceeded the long-term October average.

Streamflows

Lower rainfall totals coupled with warmer conditions in October have resulted in lower flows in most Victorian catchments compared with recent months.

At the end of October, only three of the 28 representative stations recorded flows above 60% of the long-term October average, while 13 stations recorded flow less than 10% of the long-term October average, including two with no flows.

Storage Volumes

Most storage levels across Victoria continued to increase throughout October. The total volume in the state’s major storages increased by 4.3% to 28.4% of capacity.

Melbourne's storages increased by 5.2% to 37.9% of capacity, while regional water storages increased by 4.1% to 27.1% of capacity at the end of October.

Restrictions on Urban Water Supplies

During October, Wannon Water removed restrictions for Balmoral and Glenthompson.  North East Water reduced restrictions for Bundalong and Yarrawonga to Stage 1.

GWMWater reduced restrictions for over 40 towns. Towns located on supply systems 1 and 2 of the Wimmera Mallee pipeline, as well as Horsham, Stawell and Ararat moved from Stage 4 to Stage 1 restrictions. Quambatook moved from Stage 2 to Stage 1. Restrictions were removed for Elmhurst, Willaura, Buangor, Lake Bolac, Moyston and Wickliffe.

At the end of the month, 320 Victorian towns were on restrictions. Of these, 118 were on Stage 1 restrictions, 19 were on Stage 2, 53 were on Stage 3, 19 on Stage 3a, 69 on Stage 4 with general exemptions and 42 on Stage 4.

Irrigation Allocations

At the end of October, G-MW allocations for high-reliability water shares (HRWS) on the Murray and Goulburn systems were at 29% and 33% respectively.  Allocations for all other northern systems remained at 0%.

G-MW released the latest outlook for the 2009/10 season on 15 October. Under average inflow conditions, the Murray system would receive 54% and the Goulburn system 53% for HRWS on 15 December. The Broken system would receive a 3% allocation under average conditions, however all other systems would remain on 0% at 15 December. G-MW will make the next allocation announcement on 2 November.

The allocations for the Coliban Rural System and the Wimmera-Mallee irrigation supply system remain at 0%.

In southern Victoria, the seasonal allocation for the Werribee and Bacchus Marsh irrigation districts was increased to 6% of HRWS.

At the end of the month, Lake Glenmaggie was at 98.2% of capacity. At the end of October, allocations for the Macalister Irrigation District were at 90% for HRWS.

The irrigation share of Blue Rock was 1,261 ML at the end of October.

Restrictions on Unregulated Streams

At the end of September, diversions from a total of 117 unregulated streams and lakes across the state were subject to restrictions. This is lower than the same time last year when 127 streams were on restriction.

Seasonal Climate Outlook

The Bureau of Meteorology released its rainfall outlook for November to January on 23 October. The outlook reports that the odds of the coming season being wetter than normal are the same as the chance of it being drier.

In the latest ENSO Wrap-Up issued on 28 October 2009, overall, the Bureau reports strengthening El Niño conditions, which is likely to result in below average rainfall for southeast Australia through to early 2010.