Current water snapshot

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

Water storage levels

• 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

Monthly storage levels

As of the end of July 2024:

• Regional storages were 83% full.
  • 2.3% higher than the previous month 80.7%).
• Melbourne storages were 89% full.
  • 2.5% higher than the previous month (86.5%).
• Total Victorian storages were 83.9% full.
  • 2.4% higher than the previous month (81.5%).

Download the monthly dataset

Updated 16 August 2024. The next update is in mid-September 2024.

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

• There is a moderate chance (45-60%) that October to December rainfall will exceed the median across most of Victoria. There is a higher chance (60-70%) in central Victoria around Maryborough and in the North East.
• Minimum daily temperatures in October to December are very likely to exceed the median (>80% chance) for all of Victoria.
• Maximum daily temperatures in October to December are very likely to exceed the median (>75% chance) for most of Victoria. There is a slightly lower chance (70-75%) in parts of Gippsland.
• Updated on 5 September 2024. The next update is expected on 12 September 2024.

• The Bureau's El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Outlook remains at La Niña Watch.
• Three of 7 climate models suggest the possibility of Sea Surface Temperatures (SSTs) in the tropical Pacific exceeding the La Niña threshold (below −0.8 °C) from October, while the remaining 4 models suggest SSTs are likely to remain at ENSO-neutral values (between −0.8 °C to +0.8 °C ) throughout the forecast period.
• The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is currently neutral, with the latest weekly IOD index value of +0.15 °C. Most models indicate that the IOD is likely to remain neutral until at least the end of spring.
• The Southern Annular Mode (SAM) is currently positive, having been neutral for most of the second half of August. The index is forecast to become neutral during the coming week. A neutral SAM has no strong influence on Victorian rainfall and temperature patterns.
• A pulse of the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) is currently in the Maritime Continent region to Australia's north. Most models suggest the pulse will maintain its strength or strengthen slightly as the MJO progresses over the Maritime Continent in the coming week. When the MJO is in the Maritime Continent at this time of year, it may contribute towards strengthening trade winds, which can assist with La Niña development.
• Updated on 3 September 2024. The next update is expected on 17 September 2024.

Current urban restrictions

As at 5 September 2024, there were no towns on restrictions, with permanent water saving rules in place across Victoria. The last time urban restrictions were in place was in June 2020, when 20 towns were on stage 1 restrictions.

Urban water corporations publish water restrictions on their websites.

Find your urban water corporation.

Monthly urban restrictions - 2010 to 2024

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

Updated 5 September 2024. The next update is in early October 2024.

Graph of total number of towns on urban restrictions from January 2010 to August 2024

Stream restrictions

End-of-month stream restrictions - 2010 to 2024

As at the end of August 2024, there were 21 stream sections with restrictions or bans on licensed diversions across Victoria - 11 fewer than at the end of July 2024. These are shown in red and purple in the map below.

Map of unregulated streams restricted as at 26 August 2024*

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

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

Updated 29 August 2024. The next update is late September 2024.

Graph of total number of unregulated stream sections restricted from January 2010 to August 2024

Groundwater summary

Quarterly groundwater level trend update

1 April to 30 June 2024 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 29 August 2024. The next update is November 2024 (for the July to September 2024 quarter).

Short and long term groundwater level trend maps

Groundwater restrictions

In 2024-25, 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 4 July 2024. The next update is 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: 06/09/24