The Bureau of Meteorology’s long-range forecast indicates below-average rainfall across autumn for most of southern Australia, with warmer-than-average temperatures persisting.
Rainfall totals in January were below to very much below average for much of Victoria, with above average for an isolated pocket in the Otways and far eastern Gippsland districts.
The north and south-west in particular experienced ongoing challenges, which included extreme heat and threat of bushfires. On the other end of the scale, flash flooding impacted the Otway Basin.
Looking ahead, the Bureau of Meteorology’s March to May outlook predicts below-average rainfall across most of Victoria.
As of late February, for our eastern storages, Blue Rock Lake was sitting at 82%, while Lake Glenmaggie was rising at 62% and Lake Narracan falling at 75%. For the western storages, Melton Reservoir was rising at 13%, with the remaining falling: Merrimu Reservoir at 60%, Pykes Creek Reservoir at 60% and Rosslyne Reservoir at 54%.
Groundwater and Rivers
Summer temperatures have impacted groundwater levels, and this trend is expected to continue in the coming months.
Following low rainfall, levels are continuing to decline in the south-west and central areas of the Koo Wee Rup and Deutgam Groundwater Management Areas. Further east, levels are generally stable, with some areas showing increases after last year’s late rainfall in the region.
Given the predicted drier than average outlook and lower flows, streams and river flows continue to be closely monitored. Please ensure you regularly check for any rosters or restrictions on waterways in your local area - updates are available on our website.
Macalister Irrigation District
Weather conditions over the past three months have been volatile, with a mix of rain, storms and heatwave events. Late December brought heavy showers and storms, which topped up reserves at Lake Glenmaggie.
In early February, Lake Glenmaggie was sitting at 120,189 ML (66% capacity). This is above the same time last year (115,024 ML) but remains below the long‑term early‑February average of 124,713 ML. Current allocations for the Macalister Irrigation District remain at 100 percent High Reliability Water Share and 0 percent Low Reliability Water Share.
Despite the rainfall events in December, ongoing inflows remain very low. Natural inflows from the Macalister River at Stringybark Creek and Glenmaggie Creek are currently around 70 ML/day, with a 7‑day average of 77 ML/day. So far this season, cumulative inflows total 1,227 ML, compared with the 10‑year seasonal average of 4,196 ML, confirming that catchment inflows are materially lower than normal.
Demand is following a similar trend to previous seasons, although it is steadier than last year. With below-average rainfall expected for autumn, demand is likely to remain high. In these conditions, we encourage you to regularly read your water meter, so you can track usage against your entitlement, and can plan to buy or sell additional seasonal or permanent allocation.
We strongly encourage you continue to follow our tips on water ordering to help us get water to you in a timelier way.
Werribee and Bacchus Marsh Irrigation Districts
The lack of rainfall hitting catchments over the summer months, together with the unavailability of recycled water, has caused concerns for customers in the Werribee Irrigation District, leading to an increase in water trading.
Melbourne Water paused supplying recycled water to Southern Rural Water in late December because the blue green algae cell count exceeded the acceptable supply limit. Traditionally, about 95 percent of district customers rely on recycled water, so the pause is impacting the whole district. A reintroduction of recycled water can only occur after the cell counts drop to acceptable levels over three days in a row, which means a timeline cannot be placed on when services will return.
Meanwhile, allocation of high reliability water shares is sitting at 90 percent, which is down on this time last year. The recently completed modernisation works, and increased efficiency are assisting in the interim, but rainfall is needed for the district during autumn.
The conditions for Bacchus Marsh are similar, with lower river levels impacting customers as well. We also carried out weed control maintenance in both districts. While in Bacchus Marsh we repaired a major leak and replaced one of our main supply pumps, with minimal impact to customer supply.
Fair water for all
It’s illegal to take and use more water than allowed under your entitlement to undertake works without approval. Southern Rural Water has a zero-tolerance approach to unauthorised water take.
We encourage you to regularly read your water meter to track usage against entitlements. This will support informed decisions about buying and selling additional water before the forecast drier-than-average autumn. And if you have an issue with your meter, or you need help managing your water, please get in touch.
We will be conducting inspections to detect water theft, including checking customers whose usage exceeded their entitlement in the previous irrigation season. We will also target areas where there are high volumes of trades and a history of non-compliance.
Water must not be taken from our channels, pipes or regulated rivers without a confirmed order and as per your allocated volume and time. Our automated systems detect discrepancies, and our Compliance Officers actively investigate these instances.
Dry conditions support
For those experiencing drought conditions, support services remain accessible through Agriculture Victoria. These include financial and mental health support, and we would encourage you to reach out if you’re having a tough time.
General support
We understand our customers may need assistance from time to time. Please reach out to our Customer Service Team, who can point you in the right direction for services and assistance. Contact 1300 139 510. Alternatively, you can visit our website at srw.com.au.