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 November was above average for most of Victoria.  Some stations in the north east and in the central district near Melbourne recorded their wettest November on record. 

Streamflow

Above average rainfalls across parts of Victoria during November produced good end-of-month stream flows at many stations.  Eleven of 28 gauging stations recorded above average end-of-month flows.

Storages

The total volume of water in most of Victoria’s major storages decreased marginally; the first decrease since May this year.  By the end of November, Victoria’s major storages were at 87.7% of total capacity.

The total volume of water in Victoria’s major regional storages increased to 91.6% and Melbourne’s storage levels rose to 63.5%.

Restrictions on Urban Water Supplies

At the end of the month, 29 Victorian towns were still on restrictions.  This is much less than this time last year, when 154 towns were still subject to water restrictions.

Irrigation Allocations

The allocation for high-reliability water shares (HRWS) increased to 100% on the Murray system, and the allocation for low-reliability water shares (LRWS) on the Broken system was increased to 40%. All other systems have reached the maximum allocation for HRWS for 2011/12, and the Campaspe and Bullarook systems have reached the maximum allocation for LRWS.

In the southern irrigation districts, the LRWS allocation for Werribee and Bacchus Marsh was increased to 30%.  The allocation for Macalister will remain at 90% until the end of the spilling period in December.

Restrictions on Unregulated Streams

Diversions from four unregulated streams across the State are subject to restrictions at the end of November.  This is less than the same time last year when 11 streams were still subject to some form of restriction on diversions.

Seasonal Climate Outlook

The Bureau of Meteorology’s latest rainfall outlook for December 2011 to February 2012 indicates the chance of below normal rainfall for southern Victoria is between 60 and 65%.  Over northern Victoria, the chances of a drier or wetter summer are roughly equal.

The Bureau reports that ENSO conditions in the central Pacific Ocean are consistent with a La Niña event.  However, it appears that the event will be weaker than that of 2010/11.