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 March was above average across most of the state.  Patches of central and western Victoria received rainfall that was very much above the long-term March average.

Stream flows

Another month with intensive summer rainfalls has resulted in end-of-month stream flows similar to February. Five of the 28 representative stations, located in the Alpine, West Gippsland and West Coast regions recorded flow above 100% of the long-term March average.

Storages

The total volume in the state’s major storages decreased by 0.2% to 27.9% of capacity.

Melbourne's storages are holding 34.0% of capacity which is 0.9% lower than at the end of February.  The major regional water storages decreased by 0.1% to 26.8% of capacity at the end of March.

Restrictions on Urban Water Supplies

During March, Barwon Water reduced restrictions for Geelong and region to Stage 3.  Central Highlands Water removed restrictions for Beaufort and Raglan, and Goulburn Valley Water removed restrictions for Longwood.  North East Water introduced Stage 4 restrictions for Bundalong, due to a blue-green algae outbreak on the Murray River.

At the end of March, 249 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 March, the G-MW allocation for high-reliability water shares (HRWS) on the Goulburn system was 69%, 78% for the Murray system, 13% for the Broken system, and 19% for Bullarook Creek.  An opening allocation of 3% for HRWS was announced on the Loddon system during March.  The allocation on the Campaspe remained at zero.

The allocations for the Coliban Rural System and the Wimmera-Mallee irrigation supply system remain at 0%.  However, a 30% emergency supply is available to eligible commercial customers on the Coliban Rural System.

In southern Victoria, the seasonal allocation for the Werribee and Bacchus Marsh irrigation districts were increased to 14% of HRWS. 

At the end of the month, Lake Glenmaggie was at 48.4% of capacity.  The allocation for HRWS in the Macalister Irrigation District remained at 100%, and the allocation for low-reliability water shares (LRWS) was increased to 20% on 23 March.

Restrictions on Unregulated Streams

At the end of March, diversions from a total of 163 unregulated streams and lakes across the state were subject to restrictions.  This is less than the same time last year when 199 streams were on restriction.

Seasonal Climate Outlook

The Bureau of Meteorology released its rainfall outlook for April to June on 23 March.  The outlook reports a neutral chance for median rainfall across most of Victoria, however, a drier than median season is predicted for north-western Victoria.

In the latest ENSO Wrap-Up issued on 31 March, overall, the Bureau reports continuing El Niño conditions. However, Pacific Ocean temperatures are showing signs of cooling, in line with expectations that tropical ocean temperatures will ease towards more average conditions in coming months.