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 July was average for most of Victoria, however, parts of the Mallee and central Victoria were drier than usual, and Gippsland, the Alpine region, and parts of south-west Victoria saw above average rainfall. 

Streamflow

Rainfall across the State in July continued to produce steady runoff in response to low temperatures and evapotranspiration and soaked catchments.  Of the 28 representative stations, five recorded flows above the long-term July average.

Storages

The total volume of water in most of Victoria’s major storages increased during July.  By the end of July, Victoria’s major storages had risen to 82.0% of total capacity.  The total volume of water in Victoria’s major regional storages increased by 2.1% to 85.9% and Melbourne’s storage levels rose 3.7% to 59.2%.

Restrictions on Urban Water Supplies

During July, Central Highlands Water removed restrictions for Daylesford and region, and reduced restrictions for Blackwood and Barrys Reef to Stage 2.  North East Water removed Stage 4 restrictions for Bundalong.  There are now no towns on Stage 4 restrictions.  At the end of the month, 32 Victorian towns were still on restrictions.  This is the lowest number of towns on restrictions for almost a decade.

Irrigation Allocations

The 2011/12 season opened on 1 July, with allocations on all northern regulated systems for the first time since 2002/03.  By the end of the month, allocations for high-reliability water shares (HRWS) were at 33% on the Murray system, and 60% on the Goulburn and Loddon systems.  The Campaspe system received full HRWS allocation, along with 47% allocation against low-reliability water shares (LRWS).  By the end of July, the Bullarook system had full HRWS and LRWS allocations.

In the southern irrigation districts, the starting allocations for Werribee and Bacchus Marsh were a full HRWS allocation and finished the month with an additional 15% LRWS.  Allocations of 90% HRWS were announced for the Macalister irrigation district, with access to spill entitlement until at least 1 August.  This was the best season opening for the southern systems since at least 2007.

Restrictions on Unregulated Streams

At the end of July, diversions from one unregulated stream were subject to restrictions. The same time last year 139 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 August to October 2011 suggests a drier than normal season over Western Victoria and most of South-East Australia.

The Bureau reports neutral ENSO conditions in the tropical Pacific Ocean, with most atmospheric and oceanic indicators at near normal levels.  All available climate models indicate neutral conditions are likely to persist through winter and spring.