Urban Water Restrictions - March 2010
On 1 March, Barwon Water reduced Stage 4(ex) restrictions for Geelong and region to Stage 3. On 3 March, due to the outbreak of blue-green algae on the Murray River, it was necessary for North East Water to introduce Stage 4 restrictions for Bundalong as the treatment plant could not cope with the high levels of algae in the water.
On 15 March, Central Highlands Water removed Stage 1 restrictions for Beaufort and Raglan, and Goulburn Valley Water removed Stage 1 restrictions for Longwood on 19 March. Permanent water saving rules apply in those areas.
At the end of March, 249 Victorian towns were on restrictions. This is significantly lower than the same time last year, when 343 towns on restrictions. Of the current towns on restrictions, 86 were on Stage 1 restrictions, 17 on Stage 2, 92 on Stage 3, 19 on Stage 3a, 16 on Stage 4 with general exemptions and 19 on Stage 4. Approximately 270 towns were not on water restrictions but were subject to permanent water saving rules.