Dry conditions are expected during summer across southern Victoria. Customers are urged to plan their water allocation effectively to meet their needs. Buying and selling water allocation is a good pathway for those who have more entitlement than they need, or those who are planning to use more water than they currently are entitled to.
Agriculture Victoria is also supporting irrigators, to support the development of a dry season plan.
Customers are encouraged to plan effectively for the dry period. Southern Rural Water has a zero-tolerance to water theft and will continue its compliance monitoring during summer.
Groundwater and Rivers
Conditions remain dry across the southwest for groundwater and rivers customers, with pumping bans already in place on some rivers and close to being placed on other river systems.
The Otway catchment remains dry but several minor rain events have kept rivers above restriction levels. The Central Highlands catchment has seen little to no run-off into farm dams, which has meant less area being sown for potatoes.
Closer to Melbourne in the Central region, no restrictions are in place but creek flows are dropping. Without significant rainfall, irrigation bans are likely for the Lang Lang River, Monbulk Creek, Turitable Creek, Little River, Lerderderg Creek and Deep Creek.
In Gippsland, average rainfall is forecast. Streams in West and South Gippsland have maintained reasonably good flows leading into spring; however, flows are now starting to decline coming into summer and it’s likely that restrictions are implemented earlier in the season for parts of east Gippsland and west and south Gippsland.
River restrictions
The following rivers currently have restrictions and / or pumping bans:
• Moorabool River
• Barwon River at Inverleigh
• Crawford River
• Moyne River
• Eumeralla River
• Fitzroy River
Licence holders are encouraged to call their local roster hotline or field officer for information on restrictions in their area.
Groundwater allocation
Licence holders in the Deutgam Groundwater Management Area should be aware of the current 50 percent allocations in place ─ with groundwater levels dropping, there is a possibility of this allocation reducing further.
Macalister Irrigation District
In the Macalister Irrigation District, projected warmer weather means a spill is unlikely this season, so demand for water will continue to be consistent. Lake Glenmaggie is currently at 143,000 megalitres, having peaked at 173,000 megalitres in mid-October.
Some customers may elect to stretch irrigations or close off sections of their farms to best utilise their available water.
Werribee and Bacchus Marsh irrigation districts
In the Werribee and Bacchus Marsh irrigation districts, it’s expected to be business as usual in both districts despite the forecast of warmer weather.
Despite below average spring rainfall, allocation for the Werribee system is at 100 percent of high reliability water shares and 5 percent low reliability water shares. Storage levels at both Pykes Creek and Merrimu are only slightly down on three months ago, with both storages still at over 80 percent capacity. Melton Reservoir, which provides downstream storage capacity for Werribee irrigators, has remained steady at just over 50 percent full.
With work now complete on the automated customer outlets, constructed as part of Stages 4 and 5 of the Werribee Irrigation District Modernisation Project, we ask that customers report any unusual activity on their outlets to the water planning team. Customers must not operate outlets on their own.
Ordering
With the expected high demand, customers should allow for sufficient time when placing orders and our team will be working hard to efficiently process orders during this busy time.
Customers are also reminded that before taking water from a regulated river or channel, to ensure a confirmed order is in place, and to stick to ordered volumes and start/finish times.
Water must be ordered online at Waterline or via our automated Waterline phone service. You can read more here.
Metering and Compliance
Groundwater and rivers customers should note that meter reads will commence in January.
Customers are reminded they are responsible for managing water use and tracking their entitlement. Taking and using more water than is allowed under your entitlement is illegal. Any excess means there is less water available for other entitlement holders. Southern Rural Water have a zero-tolerance approach to unauthorised water take.
If customers are having an issue placing an order, they should call Waterline or call through to customer service to have their call directed.
Maintenance
In the Macalister Irrigation District, we have completed channel weed removal works.
In Werribee, annual maintenance is underway to eradicate artichoke weed on Southern Rural Water land adjacent to the D1 drain and we are upgrading the Drain 5 grate and spillway near Wyndham Harbour. The upgrade will improve stormwater flow and provide safe access for maintenance staff and emergency services personnel.