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 8 September 2026, total combined storage levels for major Melbourne, regional and statewide storage networks were as follows:

• Melbourne: 70% full (3% lower than the previous year).
• Regional: 73% full (13% higher than the previous year).
• Statewide: 72% full (10% higher 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 20 August 2026. The next update is in mid-September 2026.

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 predicts a low likelihood (20-40% chance) of October to December rainfall exceeding the median across southern, central and northeastern Victoria.
• The likelihood of exceeding the median is higher in the north of the state at 35-45%, and lowest along the southern coasts (with below 20% chance in far South Gippsland).
• There is an increased likelihood (over 80% chance) of unusually high maximum temperatures across the whole of Victoria from October to December.
• Updated on 10 September 2026. The next update is expected on 17 September 2026.

• El Niño is firmly established. Both oceanic and atmospheric indices reflect values consistent with a strong El Niño, with further intensification likely during spring.
• The sea surface temperature (SST) analysis for the week ending 30 August 2026 shows warmer than average waters around most of Australia and mostly near average temperatures to the north. Waters are especially warm along the southern New South Wales and eastern and southern Tasmania coasts, peaking at around 2–3 °C above average.
• The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is currently neutral.
• The Southern Annular Mode (SAM) index has been mostly negative in the last fortnight, and as of 30 August is currently negative. It is forecast to remain in a negative phase until at least mid-September.
• Updated on 3 September 2026. The next update is expected on 17 September 2026.

Current urban restrictions

All towns are currently subject to Permanent Water Saving Rules, except for those in the Forest Hill system (Central Highlands Water), which are on Stage 3 restrictions. This system supplies groundwater to the Allendale, Broomfield, Kingston, Newlyn, Newlyn North, Smeaton and Springmount townships.

More information on urban water corporation restrictions is published on their websites.

Find your urban water corporation.

Monthly urban restrictions - 2010 to 2026

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

Updated 3 September 2026. The next update is in early October 2026.

Graph of total number of towns on urban restrictions from January 2010 to August 2026

Stream restrictions

End-of-month stream restrictions - 2010 to 2026

As of 31 August 2026, 7 stream sections are subject to diversion restrictions in Victoria (out of a total of 253 stream sections), 34 fewer than the previous year*. These are shown in red and purple in the map below.

Map of streams restricted as at 31 August 2026**

*  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 3 September 2026. The next update is September 2026.

Graph of total number of stream sections restricted from January 2010 to August 2026

Groundwater summary

Quarterly groundwater level trend update

1 April to 30 June 2026 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 13 August 2026. The next update is in November 2026 (for the July to September 2026 quarter).

Short and long term groundwater level trend maps

Groundwater restrictions

In 2026-27, 3 GMUs are subject to allocation restrictions:

• Barnadown zone (Lower Campaspe Valley WSPA) at 75%.
• Deutgam WSPA at 25%.
• Neuarpur subzone 1 (West Wimmera GMA) at 80%.

Updated 16 July 2026.

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: 10/09/26