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 and rainfall data from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.

Rainfall

Total rainfall for February was above average across most of the state.  North-east Victoria and patches of central and south-west Victoria received rainfall that was very much above the long-term February average.

Streamflows

Intensive summer rainfalls have led to a significant improvement in end-of-month flow across some Victorian regions. Five of the 28 representative stations, located in the Alpine, East Gippsland and West Coast regions recorded flow above 100% of the long-term February average.

Storages

The total volume in the state’s major storages decreased by 1.8% to 21.7% of capacity.

Melbourne's storages are holding 34.9% of capacity which is 1.2% lower than at the end of January.  The major regional water storages decreased by 1.9% to 19.9% of capacity at the end of February.

Restrictions on Urban Water Supplies

During February, Gippsland Water introduced Stage 2 restrictions for Seaspray, and North East Water increased restrictions for Glenrowan to Stage 2. 

At the end of February, 252 Victorian towns were on restrictions, which is significantly lower than the same time last year when 343 towns were on restrictions.

Irrigation Allocations

At the end of February, the G-MW allocation for high-reliability water shares (HRWS) on the Goulburn system was 58%, and irrigators on the Broken system had received an allocation of 4% HRWS.  Allocations on the Murray and Bullarook Creek systems remained at 63% and 11% respectively throughout February. Allocations for all other northern systems remained at 0%.

G-MW’s outlook for the 2010/11 season was released on 15 February.

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 were increased to 12% of HRWS. 

At the end of the month, Lake Glenmaggie was at 57.0% of capacity.  The allocation for HRWS in the Macalister Irrigation District remained at 100%, and a 10% allocation for low-reliability water shares (LRWS) was announced on 23 February.

The irrigation share of Blue Rock was 1,424 ML at the end of February.

Restrictions on Unregulated Streams

At the end of February, diversions from a total of 175 unregulated streams and lakes across the state were subject to restrictions.  This is similar to the same time last year when 190 streams were on restriction.

Seasonal Climate Outlook

The Bureau of Meteorology released its rainfall outlook for March to May on 24 February.  The outlook reports a neutral chance overall for total rainfall across southeast Australia being wetter or drier than an average season. 

In the latest ENSO Wrap-Up issued on 17 February, overall, the Bureau reports a gradual easing of El Niño conditions, however, ocean temperatures are likely to remain above El Niño thresholds until the end of the southern autumn. Climate models surveyed by the Bureau do not predict a reinvigoration of El Niño conditions during 2010.