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 29 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: 74% full (14% higher than the previous year).
• Statewide: 74% full (12% 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 17 September 2026. The next update is in mid-October 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 (25-40% chance) of October to December rainfall exceeding the median across most of southern Victoria and parts of north-east.
• The likelihood of exceeding the median is higher (40-55% chance) over most of the state’s north, and parts of the east, with the highest likelihood (55-60% chance) over the far north-west.
• There is an increased likelihood (over 80% chance) of unusually high maximum temperatures across the whole of Victoria from October to December.
• Updated on 1 October 2026. The next update is expected on 8 October 2026.

• El Niño is at near record levels. Both oceanic and atmospheric indices reflect values consistent with a strong El Niño, with further intensification forecast during the rest of spring. All models indicate this event is likely to peak in late spring or summer, and persist into autumn 2027.
• The sea surface temperature analysis shows warmer than average waters around most of Australia's west, south and south-east, and cooler than average waters around Australia's north and north-east.
• The Indian Ocean Dipole is currently neutral.
• The Southern Annular Mode index has been mostly negative during September and is currently neutral. It is forecast to remain neutral during the next week.
• Updated on 1 October 2026. The next update is expected on 15 October 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 1 October 2026. The next update is in early November 2026.

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

Stream restrictions

End-of-month stream restrictions - 2010 to 2026

As of 18 September 2026, 14 stream sections are subject to diversion restrictions in Victoria (out of a total of 253 stream sections), 13 fewer than the previous year*. These are shown in red and purple in the map below.

Map of streams restricted as at 18 September 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 24 September 2026. The next update is October 2026.

Graph of total number of stream sections restricted from January 2010 to September 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: 01/10/26