The Monthly Water Report provides a summary of the status of Victoria's water resources and water supplies at the end of the reporting month. It is based on validated water resource information provided by Victoria's 19 Urban and Rural Water Corporations and the Bureau of Meteorology. Each month's report is published online the following month. For detailed, specific and up-to-date information, please contact the relevant Water Corporation or the Bureau of Meteorology. Links to these organisations are located within the Monthly Water Report.
Rainfall
Rainfall was generally close to average across most of the state in June, however it was below average in parts of the West Gippsland, Upper North, East Central, and Western Plains districts. Total monthly rainfall averaged across Victoria was 11% below the long-term June mean of 59.4 mm.
At the end of June, there were no stations that experienced high streamflows above 100% of the long term average for the month. Moderate streamflows were recorded in the South East of the State, Yarra River @ Millgrove, with the site recording 79% of the June long term streamflow average.
At the end of the month, flows at 12 of the 28 representative stations recorded less than 10% of the long term average for June. Two sites across the State were dry at the end of June. A further ten sites (Genoa River at The Gorge, Tarra River at Yarram, Werribee River at Ballan, Moorabool River at Batesford, Woady Yalloak River at Cressy, Hollands Creek at Kelfeera, Sunday Creek at Tallarook, Loddon River at Vaughan, Wimmera River at Glynwylln and Wimmera River at Eversley) recorded low streamflows under 10% of the June long term average.
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Storage levels
The total volume of water held in Victoria's major storages increased by 1.7% during June, ending the month at 58.0% capacity. Decreases were recorded in eight monitored systems, with the Ballarat system recording the largest percentage fall of 0.9%.
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Groundwater
This section contains a quarterly update on groundwater trends for April to June period. The next update is September 2018.
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Urban water restrictions
South Gippsland Water announced Stage 3 restrictions for Korumburra from midnight 3 May 2018, this was in place for the whole of June. All other towns are subject to Permanent Water Savings Rules.
This time last year, South Gippsland Water placed Korumburra on Stage 1 restrictions. All other Victorian towns were subject to Permanent Water Saving Rules.
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Irrigation allocations
The Resource Manager for northern Victoria (Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW)) reviewed seasonal determinations most recently on 3 April 2018. No further announcements will be provided until 2018/19.
As at 19 June, the high-reliability water share (HRWS) seasonal determination for the Werribee/ Bacchus Marsh Irrigation Districts stands at 45%, and seasonal determinations for the Macalister Irrigation District stands at 100% HRWS and 20% low-reliability water shares. The next announcement will be made 3 July 2018.
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Restrictions on diversions
At the end of June, there were 76 unregulated streams subject to diversion restrictions across Victoria, the same amount as reported at the end of May. This time last year, there were 54 waterways subject to restrictions.
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Seasonal climate outlook
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) released its latest ENSO Wrap-Up on 19 June 2018. The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Outlook has been raised to El Niño WATCH.
BoM released its latest July to September 2018 climate outlook on 28 June 2018. The outlook indicates Victoria is likely to be drier and warmer than average.
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Water for the environment
This section of the Monthly Water Report contains monthly updates on environmental entitlements. Environmental water use is reported quarterly, however the end of water year reporting will be available in the July 2018 monthly report.
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