On this page:
The status of the state’s water resources across various categories, including storage levels, rainfall and seasonal outlooks.
Water storage levels
Metro Melbourne water storage levels
Northern Victoria water storage levels
* Victoria has a 50% share of inflows to Dartmouth and in Hume
Southern Victoria water storage levels
* Werribee Basin storage value is the combined volume of the Melton, Merrimu and Pykes reservoirs
Monthly storage levels
As of the end of January 2024:
- Regional storages were 91.1% full
- 0.2% lower than the previous month (91.3%)
- Melbourne storages were 95.4% full.
- 0.3% higher than the previous month (95.1%)
- Total Victorian storages were 91.7% full.
- 0.2% lower than the previous month (91.9%)
Download the monthly dataset
Updated 22 February 2024. The next update is in mid-March 2024.
Regional, Melbourne and all Victoria monthly storage levels
Bureau of Meteorology rainfall maps
On the Bureau of Meteorology websites, view
Total rainfall received month to date in Victoria
Seasonal climate outlook
Bureau of Meteorology climate outlook
- There is a low to moderate chance (30-40%) that April to June rainfall will exceed the median in the Yarra Ranges, Hume and north-central regions of Victoria. There is a higher chance of exceeding the median (40-55%) across the remainder of the state.
- Maximum daily temperatures in April to June are very likely to exceed the median (>80%) for the whole of Victoria.
- Minimum daily temperatures in April to June are very likely to exceed the median (>80%) across most of Victoria. There is a slightly lower chance (70-80%) of minimum temperatures exceeding the median in north-west Victoria.
- The next update is expected on 21 March 2024.
Climate driver update
Bureau of Meteorology climate driver update
- El Niño continues but its oceanic indicators are steadily weakening. International climate models suggest the central tropical Pacific Ocean will continue to cool in the coming months, with 4 of 7 climate models indicating the central Pacific is likely to return to neutral El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) levels in April, with all 7 models neutral in May. Atmospheric indicators are mixed but are consistent with a steadily weakening El Niño.
- Based on the historical record from 1900, around 50% of El Niño events have been followed by a neutral year, and 40–50% have been followed by La Niña. However, global oceans have warmed significantly over the past 50 years. The oceans have been the warmest on record globally between April 2023 and January 2024. These changes may make a difference when predicting future ENSO events based on historical activity.
- The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) remains neutral. IOD events are typically unable to form between December and April due to the monsoon trough shifting south over the tropical Indian Ocean changing wind patterns.
- The Southern Annular Mode (SAM) index is currently neutral as at 3 March. Forecasts indicate SAM will remain neutral over the coming fortnight. Neutral SAM has little influence on Australian rainfall patterns.
- The global mean temperature for the 12 months February 2023 to January 2024 was the highest on record.
- Updated on 5 March 2024. The next update is expected on 19 March 2024.
Current urban restrictions
As at 14 March 2024, there were no towns on restrictions, with permanent water saving rules in place across Victoria.
Urban water corporations publish water restrictions on their websites.
Find your urban water corporation.
Monthly urban restrictions - 2010 to 2024
As at the end of February 2024 permanent water saving rules were in place across Victoria, with no towns on urban restrictions at any time during the month. The last time urban restrictions were in place was in June 2020, when 20 towns were on stage 1 restrictions.
The graph and data below are updated at the end of each month.
Updated 14 March 2024. The next update is in early April 2024.
Graph of total number of towns on urban restrictions from January 2010 to January 2024
Stream restrictions
End-of-month stream restrictions - 2010 to 2024
As at the end of February 2024, there were 63 streams with restrictions or bans on licensed diversions across Victoria - 26 more than at the end of January 2023. These are shown in red and purple in the map below.
Map of unregulated streams restricted as at 26 February 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 current bans for Falls Creek, Smiths Creek and Stony Creek in the Campaspe basin.
The graph and data below are as at the end of each month.
Updated 15 March 2024. The next update is early April 2024.
Graph of total number of unregulated streams restricted from January 2010 to February 2024
Quarterly groundwater level trend summary
Groundwater level trend update
1 July to 30 September 2023 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) 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 16 November 2023. The next update is January/February 2024 (for the October to December 2023 quarter).
Notes
- Insufficient data or monitoring bores were available to determine a short-term and long-term trend in 4 GMAs.
- Glenelg WSPA was abolished in August 2022.
Short and long term groundwater level trend maps
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
System | Seasonal determinations HRWS | Seasonal determinations LRWS | Date updated |
---|---|---|---|
Goulburn | 100% | 77% | 15 Feb 23 |
Broken | 100% | 100% | 15 Nov 23 |
Murray | 100% | 100% | 15 Mar 23 |
Campaspe | 100% | 100% | 15 Dec 23 |
Loddon | 100% | 77% | 15 Feb 23 |
Bullarook | 100% | 100% | 15 Nov 23 |
Southern Rural Water
System | Seasonal determinations HRWS | Seasonal determinations LRWS | Date updated |
---|---|---|---|
Bacchus Marsh / Werribee | 100% | 100% | 4 Dec 23 |
Thomson / Macalister | 100% | 5% | 5 Mar 24 |
Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water
System | Seasonal determinations - Wimmera-Mallee Pipeline product | Date updated |
---|---|---|
Wimmera | 87% | 9 Feb 24 |
Coliban Water
System | Seasonal determinations | Date updated |
---|---|---|
Coliban Rural System | 100% | Opening announcement Jul 23 |
Page last updated: 15/03/24