Water Storages
Melbourne's water storages are currently 32.7% full
Water storage data as at 21/8/2008
Melbourne's water consumption to 8am today (includes Western Water): 952ML
Follow the links below to view more information on individual Reservoirs
| Reservoir | Capacity | Current Volume ( ML ) |
% Full | Change since Yesterday ( ML ) |
Rainfall (mm)* to 8:00am |
Rainfall Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomson | 1,068,000 | 201,707 | 18.9 | +61 | 0.0 | Hourly data... |
| Upper Yarra | 200,000 | 127,710 | 63.9 | +1340 | 0.0 | Hourly data... |
| O'Shannassy | 3,000 | 3,157 | 100.0 | -3 | Hourly data... | |
| Maroondah | 22,000 | 17,240 | 78.4 | +352 | 0.0 | Hourly data... |
| Sugarloaf | 96,000 | 30,464 | 31.7 | +963 | Hourly data... | |
| Yan Yean | 30,000 | 5,565 | 18.6 | +39 | Hourly data... | |
| Greenvale | 27,000 | 20,352 | 75.4 | +18 | Hourly data... | |
| Silvan | 40,000 | 36,631 | 91.6 | -76 | 0.0 | Hourly data... |
| Cardinia | 287,000 | 136,418 | 47.5 | +24 | Hourly data... | |
| Total | 1,773,000 | 579,244 | 32.7 | +2718 |
These results are preliminary and are validated at the end of the month.
* Validated rainfall data provided for our four major catchments only. Access rainfall data (measured by field monitoring devices) for your area here.
- View rainfall data (measured by field monitoring devices) for your area.
- Storage levels for 2008.
- Information on where our water comes from.
Notes:
1. Annual inflow is taken as calendar year inflow (January to December) and is calculated using hydrological methods and gauging records.
2. Inflow at the four main harvesting reservoir sites represents the main sources of streamflow from Melbourne's water supply catchments that are not impacted by upstream diversions, but may be impacted by changes to catchment and climate conditions.
Water Restrictions
Stage 3a water restrictions in place now
Last summer we received only 40% of the average summer rainfall and stream flows into our major catchments were well below average.
Stage 3a is the second phase of Stage 3 water restrictions and has been introduced due to low rainfall over summer and below average stream flows. Stage 3a helps to save water while minimising the impact on businesses and community sporting facilities.
Stage 3a water restrictions - Questions and Answers
Stage 3a water restrictions - Fact sheet (PDF 423kb)
Ideas to Save Water - Fact sheet (PDF 80kb)
Rainwater Tank Rebates - Fact sheet (PDF 60kb)
Water restrictions information in ten community languages
In addition to the permanent water saving rules introduced across Victoria in 2005, there are four stages of water restrictions.
Restriction stages are triggered when the amount of water in our storages falls to certain levels. These trigger points vary according to the time of the year - the trigger points (PDF, 29.8 kb) are higher in summer when demand is higher.
The decision to lift or introduce water saving rules and restrictions is made by the Victorian Government based on information it receives from Melbourne Water and the retail water companies, City West Water, South East Water or Yarra Valley Water.
The status of water restrictions is reviewed monthly. Weather forecasts, water consumption, seasonal factors, and rainfall in catchments are all taken into consideration.
As extremely dry conditions persist, it is important that we continue to save water and conserve our precious drinking water supplies.
Drought
The severe drought affecting many parts of Australia has tightened its grip. In Victoria, the last decade has been the driest on record. River flows and reservoir levels are at all time-lows.
The current drought is in its tenth year and has severely reduced the amount of water flowing in our rivers and streams and the level of water stored in our water supply reservoirs.
Melbourne has nine major water storages high up the forested water supply catchments to the north and east of Melbourne.
These reservoirs supply water via large transfer mains to service reservoirs throughout the metropolitan area. From here the retail water companies take the water and supply it to people who live and work within their area of responsibility.
During drought Melbourne Water and the retail water companies work together to help people and businesses understand the need to conserve water and reduce demand.
Melbourne residents are very water conscious, and have reduced their consumption by 22% over average 1990s levels.
For information on more ways to save water, go to Our Water Our Future, or your local retail water company - City West Water, South East Water or Yarra Valley Water.
To improve security of supply, Melbourne Water is reconnecting of the Tarago Reservoir, and investigating large-scale recycling initiatives such as the Eastern Water Recycling Proposal, which could free up 139,000 gigalitres of drinking water.
Melbourne Water's Living With Drought Essential Facts Sheet
More information on Melbourne's drought is available on Melbourne Water's Living with Drought website.
Long term planning
Victoria's prosperity depends on a secure water supply for our homes, farms, environment and industry.
However, it is possible that current low rainfall and lower levels of water flowing in our rivers and streams may not return to ‘normal’.
Low rainfall and lower river and stream flow levels mean that we no longer rely only on stream flow into our reservoirs as the main source of our water.
Long term planning for future water supplies now includes other alternatives, including re-use, recycling, water use efficiencies and desalination.
Our Water Our Future: Securing Our Water Future Together is an action plan to enable smarter water use and management across the state.
The Government launched the Next Stage of its Our Water Our Future Plan in June 2007, building on work already done to date to secure our water future.
This plan provides water security for Victoria’s gorwing population and economy by diversifying and boosting water supplies, networking the State’s water resources in a Victorian Water Grid and enabling a rapid and flexible response to changing future water needs.
The plan included the announcement of $4.9 billion of projects to secure Melbourne and Victoria's water supplies for the long term, including:
- A 150 billion litre desalination plant to provide water for Melbourne, Geelong, Westernport and Wonthaggi;
- A major irrigation upgrade in the Food Bowl in Northern Victoria to deliver water savings to be shared equally between irrigators, the environment, and Melbourne; and
- A major expansion of the Victorian Water Grid with pipelines to connect Melbourne’s water system with the desalination plant and Northern irrigation upgrades, connect Geelong to Melbourne’s supplies, and connect Hamilton to the Grampians Wimmera Mallee System.
These projects will deliver a 50 per cent boost to Melbourne’s water supply within five years and allow water to be moved where it’s needed most.
They will increase Victoria’s total supply by 375 billion litres each year, with Melbourne receiving 75 billion litres in 2010 and a further 150 billion by the end of 2011.
These actions are in addition to the reconnection of the Tarago Reservoir by 2009 and the upgrade of the Eastern Treatment Plant announced through the Government’s Central Region Sustainable Water Strategy, which considered issues affecting the wider region such as bulk entitlements, water allocations between water authorities, environmental health and new water allocations.
The Water Supply-Demand Strategy (PDF, 901kb) for Melbourne also proposes a program of actions to maintain reliable supplies and manage water demand for the next 50 years with climate change.
Works to bring the Swingler Weir back into service
Swingler Weir formed part of the staged development of the Thomson Reservoir. The weir is designed to divert water into a tunnel that connects to Upper Yarra Reservoir.
The weir operated from 1977 until 1984 (when the Thomson Reservoir was completed). Once the Thomson Reservoir filled the weir was submerged. The weir has most recently been revealed to a point where it could be used in 2006.
The weir is upstream of the Thomson reservoir and can divert streamflow from the majority of the Thomson catchment and direct it to Upper Yarra Reservoir, before it enters the main body of the Thomson Reservoir. The recommissioning of the weir means that this diverted water would not need to enter the Thomson Reservoir where it may require pumping if the Thomson approaches 13% (138,000ML).
Works to bring the weir back into service were completed in May 2007.
Drought Response Plan and extreme drought contingencies
Melbourne Water and the three retail water companies have developed a Drought Response Plan.
The plan co-ordinates management of the water supply system to minimise drought impacts, such as restrictions and other actions, which can affect water users and the environment.
To view a copy of the plan, go to your local retail water company - City West Water, South East Water or Yarra Valley Water.
Melbourne Water and the retail water companies are putting in place a number of drought contingencies to secure our water supply during this time of unprecedented low inflows to our reservoirs.
In June 2007, the Victorian State Government announced $4.9 billion of projects to secure Melbourne and Victoria's water supplies for the long term. These include:
- A 150 billion litre desalination plant to provide water for Melbourne, Geelong, Westernport and Wonthaggi;
- A major irrigation upgrade in the Food Bowl in Northern Victoria to deliver water savings to be shared equally between irrigators, the environment, and Melbourne; and
- A major expansion of the Victorian Water Grid with pipelines to connect Melbourne’s water system with the desalination plant and Northern irrigation upgrades, connect Geelong to Melbourne’s supplies, and connect Hamilton to the Grampians Wimmera Mallee System.
These projects will deliver a 50 per cent boost to Melbourne’s water supply within five years and allow water to be moved where it’s needed most.
They will increase Victoria’s total supply by 375 billion litres each year, with Melbourne receiving 75 billion litres in 2010 and a further 150 billion by the end of 2011.
Climate change
Climate change is a global environmental issue with potential for significant environmental impacts.
Climate change is associated with the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases due to human activity, such as burning fossil fuels.
It is clear that climate change will have a long-term impact on water supplies.
Melbourne Water commissioned the CSIRO to conduct a detailed study into the likely impact of climate change on our water, sewerage and drainage systems.
The June 2005 Melbourne Water Climate Change Study (PDF 1.3MB) identified trends including:
- Increased average and summer temperatures
- Reduced rainfall
- Reduced stream flows
- More extreme events with more hot days, more dry days and increased rainfall intensity during storm events.
This information is being incorporated into short and long term planning processes within Melbourne Water and the Government.
Diversions and irrigators
In the Port Phillip and Westernport regions managed by Melbourne Water there are approximately 2000 licensed water users who are permitted to divert water from waterways.
These diverters use water for agricultural, industrial, commercial and domestic and stock purposes. During drought the diverters’ access to water is restricted or closed off depending on the levels of our waterways and to avoid environmental impacts.
Melbourne Water constantly monitors the flows of our waterways and diversion licences are managed to ensure that the minimum environmental flows are maintained in the river and that the health of waterways are protected.
Diverters are able to check the status of waterways, sub-catchments and river systems, and whether restrictions or bans are in place.
Melbourne Water has released a new drought response plan for licensed water diverters (PDF, 801kb), which is designed to manage access to water by all users and the environment, define when restrictions or bans are necessary, and outline obligations of both Melbourne Water and water users.
Downloads
- Climate Change Study (PDF, 1.3mb)
- Exemption Request From Water Restrictions (PDF, 111kb)
- Ideas to Save Water - Fact Sheet (PDF, 80kb)
- Melbourne Contingency Drought Measures 2007-08 (PDF, 26kb)
- Melbourne Water Industry Protocol on Drought Response Percentage Trigger Levels (PDF, 30kb)
- Our Water Our Future - the Next Stage of the Government's Water Plan (PDF, 2.8mb)
- Rainwater Tank Rebates - Fact Sheet (PDF, 50kb)
- Stage 3a Water Restrictions - Fact Sheet (PDF, 423kb)
- Water Supply-Demand Strategy (PDF, 900kb)
You will need Adobe Acrobat to access the above PDF documents. 
Links
- Conserve Water
- Drought Information For Victoria
- Home Water Investigator
- Living With Drought
- Our Water Our Future
- City West Water
- South East Water
- Yarra Valley Water
- Central Region Sustainable Water Strategy
- Water diverters information and waterway status
- Community languages
- Water Saver Garden Centres