The Monthly Water Report provides a summary of the status of Victoria's water resources and water supplies at the end of the reporting month. It is based on validated water resource information provided by Victoria's 19 Urban and Rural Water Corporations and the Bureau of Meteorology. Each month's report is published online the following month. For detailed, specific and up-to-date information, please contact the relevant Water Corporation or the Bureau of Meteorology. Links to these organisations are located within the Monthly Water Report.
Rainfall
Victoria experienced another wet month during March, recording above average rainfall across large parts of the State. Rainfall was very much above the average in north-western and western Victoria, and East and West Gippsland.
Stream flows
Of the 28 representative streamflow gauging stations in Victoria, 22 recorded flows above 100% of the long-term March average at the end of the month.
Storages
The total volume in Victoria’s major storages was 77.9% of total capacity at the end of March. The volume in the State’s major regional storages increased by 0.8% to 82.3% of capacity, and Melbourne's storages finished the month at 52.4%.
Restrictions on Urban Water Supplies
During March, Barwon Water removed restrictions for Geelong and district, Coliban Water removed restrictions for Castlemaine and district and Central Highlands Water removed restrictions for Lexton. Central Highlands Water also reduced restrictions for towns on its Forest Hill supply system.At the end of the month, only 41 Victorian towns were still on restrictions. This is the lowest number of towns on restrictions for almost a decade.
Irrigation Allocations
Irrigation allocations across Victoria remained unchanged during March. Demand across all districts remains low for this time of year. In northern Victoria, full allocations for high-reliability water shares are available for all systems, and full low-reliability allocations are available for the Broken, Bullarook and Campaspe systems. There are full allocations for high- and low-reliability water shares in the Macalister Irrigation District. The allocation for Werribee and Bacchus Marsh remained at 100% high-reliability and 50% low-reliability.The allocation for the Coliban rural system remained at 70%.
Restrictions on Unregulated Streams
At the end of March, diversions from a total of 6 unregulated streams and lakes across the state were subject to restrictions. This is significantly less than the same time last year when 163 streams were on restriction. It is the lowest number of streams on restriction for more than five years.
Seasonal Climate Outlook
The Bureau of Meteorology’s latest rainfall outlook for April to June 2011 favours drier than average conditions over southern Victoria.The Bureau reports that the strong La Niña event which has dominated the Australian climate for the past nine months is showing signs of weakening. The 2010/11 event is one of the strongest on record. La Niña periods are generally associated with above normal rainfall during the second half of the year across large parts of Australia, most notably eastern and northern regions.
