The 2023-24 Victorian Water Accounts have been released, with 21 years of data and information now available online.
The Victorian Water Accounts are a trusted and transparent source of information that provides a comprehensive picture of the availability and use of the state’s water each year.
The reports have been released annually since 2003–04 and contain valuable data gathered during significant dry and wet periods.
2023–24 Accounts
The 2023–24 Accounts tell the story of a slightly drier than average year, reflecting the varying water availability that will continue to be impacted by a warming, drying climate and a growing population.
It followed 2 years of above average rainfall, although in 16 of the last 21 years the total amount of water flowing through our rivers was lower than the long-term average.
Across 2023–24, the rainfall Victoria received ranged from the lowest on record in the state’s south-west to above average in parts of the northern country, central Victoria and around Sale.
Total surface water inflows were slightly lower (93%) than the long-term average at 21,000 GL.
Water storage levels fell during the year to 82%, from 92%.
The total volume of groundwater, surface water, recycled water and desalinated water available decreased by almost 28,000 GL compared to the previous year – the equivalent of around 11.2 million Olympic swimming pools.
Water use breakdown
Total water use was roughly 15% higher than the previous year. Of the water used:
- 57% supported irrigation
- 22% delivered environmental benefits to rivers and wetlands
- 17% supplied our towns and cities
- 3% was used for rural domestic and stock use, and
- 2% was used for power generation.
Trends
The 2023–24 Accounts can be read in context of the recent dry conditions experienced across parts of the state.
The trends seen in 2023–24 have extended into 2025 with much of western and central Victoria being very dry and far eastern parts of the state having above average rainfall.
Inflows have continued to fall across most catchments, for example Geelong’s storages currently sit around 45% full and are at their lowest levels for this time of year since the millennium drought.
Across Melbourne and Geelong, the fall in water storages across 2024 and 2025 has seen the need for a 50 billion litre desalinated water order being made to supplement storages and avoid water restrictions for now.
While much of the state has seen less than average rainfall over the last 18 months, parts of east Gippsland have bucked the trend with above average rainfall as the east coast has experienced very wet periods and even flooding further north in New South Wales and Queensland.
Victoria’s comprehensive approach to managing water resources sustainably is underpinned by monitoring and reporting of water availability through the Victorian Water Accounts.
This information is critical for the Victorian Government and water corporations to plan for climate change and its impacts on water availability through Annual Water Outlooks, Urban Water Strategies and Victoria’s Water Security Plan.
Online and accessible
The 2023-24 Victorian Water Accounts are available online, along with all previous accounts going back to 2003.
For more reporting resources, visit Water monitoring and reporting.
Page last updated: 10/11/25