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 the state’s 20 urban and rural water corporations.

Rainfall

After a very dry autumn, Victoria experienced a cold and wet July with average rainfall totals across the state.

Rainfall of up to 200 mm was received in the Alpine region and coastal areas of the Western and South Gippsland districts. Total rainfall between 50 to 100 mm was received across much of southern Victoria. Rainfall was lower in the north where 15 to 50 mm was received.

Streamflows

Average rainfall during July has resulted in some improvement in streamflows in parts of Victoria, particularly in the Alpine region. However, at the end of the month, streamflows at the representative gauging stations were still below average across the state.  Flows below 10% of the long-term average for July were recorded at 15 of the 28 representative stations across Victoria.

Storage Volumes

Despite average rainfall during July, inflows to storages remained below average. At the end of July, the total volume in the state’s major storages was 17.0% of capacity. This is an increase of 2.2% over the month. The slight recovery in storage volumes is due to the lower demand for water in winter and modest inflows throughout July.

Melbourne's storages increased by 1.1% during the month to finish at 30.6% of capacity. Regional water storages increased by 2.3% to finish the month at 15.3% of capacity.

Restrictions on Urban Water Supplies

North East Water lifted restrictions for Bright, Porepunkah, Harrietville and Beechworth on 23 July 2008.

The total number of Victorian towns on restriction as at 31 July 2008 was 362, of which 59 towns were on Stage 1, 70 were on Stage 2, 41 were on Stage 3, 18 on Stage 3a, 77 on Stage 4 with general exemptions, and 97 on Stage 4. 

Irrigation Allocations

On 1 July, Goulburn-Murray Water announced a 0% opening allocation for the 2008/09 season across all water systems in northern Victoria.

Allocations remained at 0% across all systems at the end of July.

Strong inflows during August and spring are needed to meet shortfalls across all systems before irrigation allocations can be made.

The outlook for allocations on the Murray and Goulburn water systems for the 2008/09 season was updated by G-MW on 31 July 2008. Under dry inflow conditions, the Murray seasonal allocation by 15 February would be 0% and the Goulburn allocation 23%. A repeat of 2007/08 inflow conditions would allow seasonal allocations of 32% for the Murray and 33% for the Goulburn.

The seasonal allocation for Coliban Water’s rural system will be announced in September. The irrigation allocation remained at zero in the Wimmera-Mallee supply system.

In southern Victoria, the opening seasonal allocation for the Werribee and Bacchus Marsh irrigation districts was announced on 1 July and is just 2% of high reliability water share. This allocation is guaranteed only until 30 November 2008. The ban on access to groundwater in the Deutgam groundwater management area has been extended until 30 June 2009.

An opening allocation of 55% was announced for the Macalister Irrigation District. The regulated irrigation allocation from Blue Rock Lake is 6.7%. 

Restrictions on Unregulated Streams

At the end of July, diversions from a total of 130 unregulated streams and lakes across the state were subject to some form of restriction.  This is slightly greater than at the same time last year when 118 streams were on restriction.

Seasonal Climate Outlook

The rainfall outlook for the August – October period, released by the Bureau of Meteorology on 25 July 2008, indicates that the chance of exceeding the three-month median rainfall is 40 to 50% across most of Victoria. This means that the chances of being wetter than normal are about the same as the chances of being drier.

The ENSO Wrap-Up (issued 23 July 2008) indicates that neutral conditions continue to prevail across the tropical Pacific. Computer models indicate that neutral conditions are likely to continue throughout 2008.  However, there is still a small chance of an El Nino in 2008 and the Pacific will continue to be closely monitored for signs.