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

Total rainfall for November was above average for northwest and central Victoria. With the exception of parts of East Gippsland, total rainfall for the rest of the state was average.

Streamflows

Rainfall events in the last week of November provided a temporary boost to streamflows across many parts of Victoria.

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

Storage Volumes

The total volume in the state’s major storages decreased by 0.3% to 28.1% of capacity.

Melbourne's storages are holding 38.0% of capacity which is 0.1% higher than at the end of October. The major regional water storages decreased by 0.4% to 26.7% of capacity at the end of November.

Restrictions on Urban Water Supplies

During November, Wannon Water reduced restrictions for Hamilton, Cavendish, Dunkeld and Tarrington to Stage 2. Coliban Water reduced restrictions for all towns on the Goulburn system to Stage 1, for Goornong to Stage 3 and for Echuca to Stage 1.

Central Highlands Water announced that exemptions now apply to Stage 4 restrictions for the Ballarat and Maryborough districts, and reduced restrictions for Beaufort, Raglan and Lexton to Stage 1.

Lower Murray Water reduced restrictions on all towns to Stage 1. North East Water removed restrictions for Benalla, and Goulburn Valley removed restrictions for all towns in its region (over 50 towns).

Barwon Water introduced Stage 2 restrictions for Apollo Bay, Skenes Creek and Marengo. At the end of November, 266 Victorian towns were on restrictions, which is much lower than November last year, when 334 towns were on restrictions.

Irrigation Allocations

At the end of November, G-MW allocations for high-reliability water shares (HRWS) on the Murray and Goulburn systems were at 55% and 41% respectively. Allocations for all other northern systems remained at 0%.

G-MW released the final outlook for the 2009/10 season on 16 November. Under average inflow conditions, the Murray system would receive 77% and the Goulburn system 59% for HRWS on 15 February. The Broken system would receive a 3% allocation under average conditions, however all other systems would remain on 0% at 15 February. G-MW will make the next allocation announcement on 1 December.

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 remained at 6% of HRWS.

At the end of the month, Lake Glenmaggie was at 88.3% of capacity. Throughout November allocations for the Macalister Irrigation District remained at 90% for HRWS.

The irrigation share of Blue Rock was 1,332 ML at the end of November.

Restrictions on Unregulated Streams

At the end of November, diversions from a total of 120 unregulated streams and lakes across the state were subject to restrictions. This is lower than the same time last year when 125 streams were on restriction.

Seasonal Climate Outlook

The Bureau of Meteorology released its rainfall outlook for December to February on 24 November. The outlook reports that the odds of the coming season being wetter than normal are the same as the chance of it being drier for most of Victoria.

In the latest ENSO Wrap-Up issued on 25 November 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.