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

Rainfall during May was above average in parts of southern Victoria, and below average in some regions of the north and west.  Orbost was the only station to record its wettest May.

Streamflow

Total streamflows have begun to recede in recent months compared to early 2011, with a reduction in the total number of stations recording above average flow at the end of May.  Of the 28 representative streamflow gauging stations in Victoria, 14 recorded flows above the long-term May average at the end of the month.  Four stations recorded flows below 20% of the long-term May average.

Storages

The total volume in Victoria’s major storages decreased slightly during May compared to the previous month. However, Melbourne’s storage levels continued to increase, rising by almost 0.8% to 53.8%.

Restrictions on Urban Water Supplies

During May, Barwon Water removed restrictions for Apollo Bay, Skenes Creek and Marengo, North East Water removed restrictions for Goorambat and Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water removed restrictions for Streatham and Westmere.  North East Water introduced Stage 4 restrictions for Bundalong.

At the end of the month, 36 Victorian towns were still on restrictions.  This is the lowest number of towns on restrictions for almost a decade.

Irrigation Allocations

Demand across all districts remains low for this time of year.

At the end of the 2010/11 season, full allocations for high-reliability water shares are available for all northern 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 55% for low-reliability shares during May.

Restrictions on Unregulated Streams

At the end of May, diversions from four unregulated streams and lakes across the state were subject to restrictions. This is significantly less than the same time last year when 146 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 June to August 2011 reports that, for Victoria, below average winter rainfall is just as likely as above average winter rainfall

The Bureau reports that the 2010/11 La Niña event has ended, with most indicators having returned to average levels.  All available climate models indicate continuous warming of the Pacific Ocean in the coming months, with neutral conditions likely to persist through winter.