It has been a dry end to winter, with some districts in Southern Rural Water’s service area receiving significantly lower-than-average rainfall.
With the Australia Bureau of Meteorology issuing a forecast of warmer and drier conditions across much of Australia, it’s recommended irrigators work with their advisors to build a plan for the season.
The Macalister Irrigation District received only 7mm in July, in contrast to 38mm as the 10-year average.
A drier winter has meant that some groundwater and rivers customers were moved to irrigate in July, which is much earlier than usual. If the trend continues, there is potential to introduce pumping restrictions on individual creeks and rivers, particularly in east Gippsland.
It was also a dry winter in the Werribee and Bacchus Marsh irrigation districts, with below average rainfall across the Werribee catchment.
Opening allocations for the Macalister 2023−24 season are 100% High Reliability Water Shares, with Low Reliability Water Shares to be reviewed from 15 December. In Werribee and Bacchus Marsh irrigation districts, there is still sufficient water in storage, with almost 11,000 ML carryover, and 100% allocation for High Reliability Water Shares.
Allocations of 100% High Reliability Water Share means that customers can have confidence that their full entitlement volume is available this season.
Southern Rural Water was busy over winter, undertaking essential maintenance, channel upgrades and asset modernisation work in the Macalister Irrigation District.
In Werribee, Stage 4 modernisation works continued, which included the construction of nearly eight kilometres of pipeline and 21 upgraded outlets. Southern Rural Water worked strategically on this project, to ensure water continued to be supplied while work was taking place.
Drier weather can lead to higher rates of non-compliance, with the unauthorised take of water.
Please ensure you’re monitoring your water use and checking your meters regularly. We have a zero-tolerance approach to water theft. It can result in fines, less water volumes for the next season and prosecution in court.
Southern Rural Water will be on alert in the coming months to ensure fair and equitable access to water. This includes monitoring stream flows in rivers and creeks and using data from observation bores to understand groundwater levels in aquifers.
Their work is being aided by new metering technology that enables real time monitoring and tracking of water use. Nearly 2200 automated meters are in operation across southern Victoria and more devices are being installed in the Latrobe Valley.