Victoria’s water storages weather demand, dry winter

Victoria’s water storage supplies have been able to weather a very dry winter and demand thanks to years of high rainfall.

Victoria’s Water Minister Harriet Shing released the annual water outlook earlier this week outlining the latest conditions of every supply system in the state and a 12-month water forecast.

The outlook found that the state’s major water storages average 80.1 percent capacity, a fall of  13.6 per cent from a year previously, with winter rainfall the lowest recorded since 2006.

“Although our water supplies are secure in the short-term, supply and demand will continue to be closely managed in the face of a changing climate and population growth,” Shing says.

“As Melbourne continues to grow so too does the need for water and this means planning for future demand to help protect our precious drinking water supplies.”

The government says South-West Victoria has experienced extremely dry conditions over the past 12 to 18 months.

Total storage levels across regional water storages stand at 78.7 percent, down 14.8 per cent on last year.

Melbourne’s storages are an 88.4 percent, or 6.7 percent lower.

The government says demand in Melbourne continues to exceed supply of its water storage despite inflows 5 per cent above a 30-year average.

Although supplies are secure in the short-term, the annual outlook shows just how fast they can drop during hot periods.

“Looking ahead, the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting above average rainfall over summer for (the) south-west with an increased chance of above average rainfall in central and eastern Victoria,” Shing says.

“At the same time, average temperatures across the State are expected to be warmer.”

The government says its Western Port Recycled Water Scheme will, in five years, provide 4000 megalitres of recycled water to the vegetable growing region of Cardina Shire thereby reducing demand on drinking water supplies.

For more information, visit water.vic.gov.au/our-programs