Current water snapshot

The status of the state’s water resources across various categories, including storage levels, rainfall and seasonal outlooks.

Water storage levels

As at 19 August 2025, total combined storage levels for major Melbourne, regional and statewide storage networks were as follows:

• Melbourne: 72% full (18% lower than the previous year).
• Regional: 57% full (27% lower than the previous year).
• Statewide: 60% full (25% lower than the previous year).

• Melbourne Water storage levels

* Victoria has a 50% share of inflows to Dartmouth and in Hume

• Goulburn-Murray Water storage levels
• Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water storage levels

* Werribee Basin storage value is the combined volume of the Melton, Merrimu and Pykes reservoirs

• Barwon Water storage levels
• Central Highlands Water storage levels
• Coliban Water storage levels
• Gippsland Water storage levels
• South Gippsland Water storage levels
• Westernport Water storage levels

Download the monthly dataset

Updated 21 August 2024. The next update is in mid-September 2025.

Regional, Melbourne and all Victoria monthly storage levels

Bureau of Meteorology rainfall maps

On the Bureau of Meteorology websites, view

• map of rainfall received in the past 7 days
• map of total rainfall received month to date

• The Bureau of Meteorology’s outlook shows an above average (>70%)  to well above average likelihood (>80%) of exceeding the median rainfall for September to November across northern and central Victoria. The likelihood is slightly lower (60-75%) for the rest of the state.
• There is an increased chance of unusually high maximum temperatures (>80% chance) for southern Victoria. The rest of the state has lower likelihoods (60-75% chance)
• Updated on 21 August 2025. The next update is expected on 28 August 2025.

• The Bureau's model forecasts a neutral El Niño–Southern Oscillation (neither El Niño nor La Niña) until at least January.
• The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is neutral; however, all international models forecast a negative IOD to develop during spring with a return to neutral in early summer. A negative IOD typically results in above average spring rainfall over parts of southern Australia.
• The Southern Annular Mode (SAM) is positive as at 9 August. However, models suggest this to be likely short-lived and remain mostly neutral over the coming fortnight.
• Sea surface temperatures (SSTs) during July 2025 were above average (the warmest July on record). Global SSTs remain substantially above average.
• Updated on 12 August 2025. The next update is expected on 26 August 2025.

Current urban restrictions

On 1 July 2025, Central Highlands Water announced Stage 2 restrictions for the Hepburn region, including Daylesford, Hepburn and Hepburn Springs to protect local storages.

On 1 August 2025, Barwon Water announced the removal of Stage 2 restrictions in Apollo Bay, reinstating Permanent Water Saving Rules.

On 4 August 2025, Goulburn Valley Water announced the removal of Stage 2 restrictions in Euroa and Violet Town, reinstating Permanent Water Saving Rules.

Urban water corporations publish water restrictions on their websites.

Find your urban water corporation.

Monthly urban restrictions - 2010 to 2025

The graph and data below are updated at the end of each month.

Updated 7 August 2025. The next update is in early September 2025.

Graph of total number of towns on urban restrictions from January 2010 to July 2025

Stream restrictions

End-of-month stream restrictions - 2010 to 2025

As at 28 July 2025, there were 44 stream sections with restrictions or bans on licensed diversions across Victoria - 34 fewer than at the end of June 2025*. These are shown in red and purple in the map below.

Map of streams restricted as at 28 July 2025**

*  This count includes management sections subject to diversion restrictions (the term used for partial limitation on take) as well as complete bans on take.

** This map is for indicative purposes only and licence holders should refer to their respective water corporation regarding stream restrictions. This map does not display all stream restrictions.

The graph and data below are as at the end of each month.

Updated 31 July 2025. The next update is late August 2025.

Graph of total number of stream sections restricted from January 2010 to July 2025

Groundwater summary

Quarterly groundwater level trend update

1 April to 30 June 2025 quarter.

Groundwater level trends in groundwater management units (GMUs) are reported quarterly. Groundwater level trends for GMUs have been determined based on 5 years (short-term) or 10 years (long-term) of consistent monitoring data from key bores in the State Observation Bore Network (SOBN).

There are 2 categories of GMUs:

• Groundwater management areas (GMAs).
• Water supply protection areas (WSPAs).

Updated 14 August 2025. The next update is November 2025 (for the July to September 2025 quarter).

Short and long term groundwater level trend maps

Groundwater restrictions

In 2025-26, 3 GMUs are subject to allocation restrictions:

• Barnadown (Lower Campaspe Valley WSPA) at 75%.
• Deutgam WSPA at 50%.
• Neuarpur subzone 1 (West Wimmera GMA) at 80%.

Updated 17 July 2025.

Seasonal determinations and allocations

Seasonal determinations are made against water shares to provide allocations in declared systems. These can be for high reliability (HRWS) or low reliability (LRWS) water shares. In northern Victoria, Goulburn-Murray Water makes the seasonal determinations in the relevant systems, while Southern Rural Water makes the seasonal determinations in the Thomson/Macalister and Bacchus Marsh/Werribee systems.

In the Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water area, resource assessments are undertaken every month to determine the amount of water that can be made available to entitlement holders. These monthly assessments result in a formal announcement on water allocations.

Coliban Water assesses seasonal allocations for customers on its rural network based on available resources in the Coliban System.

Goulburn-Murray Water

Southern Rural Water

Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water

Coliban Water

Page last updated: 21/08/25