Water restrictions likely won’t be needed in the region over the summer, with water storages in good shape for the short term according to Barwon Water’s latest Annual Water Outlook.
Barwon Water managing director Tracey Slatter said storage levels were in the best shape for this time of year in more than a decade, sitting at nearly 100 per cent full at the start of summer.
She said the likelihood of restrictions in the Geelong, Golden Plains, Bellarine and Surf Coast supply system rated as “very rare”.
“West Barwon Reservoir, home to the region’s main catchment located in the Otways, spilled for the first time in seven years, while Lal Lal Reservoir, in the Moorabool catchment, also started spilling for a second year in a row in August,” she said.
Ms Slatter said even though storages were in good shape coming into summer it was important everyone followed the state’s permanent water saving rules, which helped ensure Victorians used water more efficiently.
“We know that while storages are at high levels now, the situation can change quickly,” she said.
“During the Millennium Drought, and even more recently during the 2015-2016 El Niño and the hot dry start to 2019, we saw water storages can draw down rapidly.
“While it has mostly been a wet 12 months for our region, historically we have seen a 32 per cent drop in average in inflows at West Barwon Reservoir since 1997.”
Ms Slatter said with the climate becoming warmer and drier, in the future we would no longer be able to rely on rainfall alone to secure supplies.
Instead being more efficient with water use, using recycled water where possible and augmenting water supply with non-climate dependent sources will become more important.
The directions are outlined in Barwon Water’s draft Water for our Future Strategy, which is open for public comment until January 10.
The long-term trend of hotter and drier conditions highlights the importance of investments made during the Millennium Drought, including the Melbourne-Geelong pipeline and Anglesea borefield, which can be used to supplement supplies in dry times.
“While water supplies are secure for now, Barwon Water’s modelling shows that by 2027 we may no longer be able to reliably meet the needs of our Geelong, Golden Plains, Bellarine and Surf Coast system, which supplies over 90 per cent of our customers,” Ms Slatter said.
“This is why, in partnership with the community, careful proactive planning for the future is required now, together with a continued focus on water efficiency and using our existing systems wisely.”
Twenty-four actions are proposed over the next five years in the draft Water for our Future Strategy, including extending the reach of the Melbourne-Geelong Pipeline so that it can supply more, allowing water to be returned to the Moorabool River for Traditional Owner cultural values and environmental needs, as well as continuing proactive programs such as increased use of recycled water on the Bellarine, smart networks in Apollo Bay and Birregurra, and water efficiency programs with residential customers, businesses and schools.
Details: barwonwater.vic.gov.au.
