The Monthly Water Report provides a statewide monthly summary of the status of water resources and water supplies. Each month's report is published online towards the end of the following month. It is based on data provided by Victoria's 19 urban and rural water corporations.

Rainfall

Total rainfall for September was either average or above average across Victoria. This is significantly better than the September rainfalls for the past three years, which were all well below average for most of the state.

Streamflows

Good rainfall in the first and last weeks of September, in addition to the average rainfall of July and August, has contributed to much improved streamflow across Victoria.

At the end of the month, 8 of the 28 representative stations recorded flows above the long-term September average, while flows at another 2 stations were between 80 and 99% of the long-term average. Only 3 stations recorded no flows at the end of September.

Storage Volumes

Storage levels increased significantly in many areas this month. The total volume in the state’s major storages increased by 4.4% to 24.2% of capacity.

Melbourne's storages increased by 4.2% to 32.6% of capacity, while regional water storages increased by 4.4% to 23.0% of capacity at the end of September.

Restrictions on Urban Water Supplies

During September, Goulburn Valley Water reduced restrictions for Euroa and Violet Town to Stage 1, Central Highlands Water removed restrictions on Amphitheatre, and North East Water removed restrictions on Whitfield, Curryong and Cudgewa.

328 Victorian towns were on restrictions on 30 September 2009. Of these, 80 were on Stage 1 restrictions, 29 were on Stage 2, 53 were on Stage 3, 19 on Stage 3a, 105 on Stage 4 with general exemptions and 42 on Stage 4.

Irrigation Allocations

At the end of September, G-MW allocations for high-reliability water shares (HRWS) on the Murray and Goulburn systems were at 13% and 7% respectively.  Allocations for all other northern systems remained at 0%.

The latest outlook for the 2009/10 season was released by G-MW on 15 September. Under average inflow conditions, the Murray system would receive 28% and the Goulburn system 30% for HRWS on 15 October. All other systems would remain on 0%. G-MW will make the next allocation announcement on 1 October.

The irrigation season for the Coliban Rural System opened at 0% allocation. The allocation for the Wimmera-Mallee irrigation supply system is also 0%.

In southern Victoria, the seasonal allocation for the Werribee and Bacchus Marsh irrigation districts remains at 2% of HRWS. This allocation is guaranteed until 30 November 2009.

At the end of the month, Lake Glenmaggie was at 88.0% of capacity, having risen 27.4% since the end of August.  At the end of September, allocations for the Macalister Irrigation District were at 75% for HRWS.

The irrigation share of Blue Rock was 825 ML at the end of September.

Restrictions on Unregulated Streams

At the end of September, diversions from a total of 121 unregulated streams and lakes across the state were subject to restrictions. This is higher than the same time last year when 112 streams were on restriction.

Seasonal Climate Outlook

The Bureau of Meteorology released its rainfall outlook for October to December on 22 September. The outlook reports a moderate to strong shift in the odds favouring drier than normal conditions for most of Victoria throughout the December quarter. The chance of exceeding the median rainfall for the season across the southern regions of the state is between 25% and 40%. For the majority of northern Victoria, the chance is between 30% and 45%.

In the latest ENSO Wrap-Up issued on 30 September 2009, overall, the Bureau continues to report a high probability of an “unusual” El Niño event during 2009, which is likely to result in below average rainfall for southeast Australia in coming months.