Water storages low across region

GEELONG’s water storage levels have hit a six-year low, with local users being encouraged to use water wisely.

Storages along the upper Barwon and Moorabool rivers have fallen to below half capacity, while Colac and Apollo Bay are as dry as they’ve been at this time of year since 2016.

Barwon Water’s key catchments have recorded below average rainfall in ten of the last twelve months.

They entered March at 47 per cent capacity, 28 percentage points lower than the same statistic recorded last year.

Recent dry conditions have seen water consumption up more than 10 per cent above average.

“It has been an extremely dry period, with low inflows to our storages and high demand,” Barwon Water managing director Shaun Cumming said.

“There are simple measures people can take that each save a little, but if we all do them together can save us a significant amount.”

Residents are being asked to take shorter showers, fix leaks, wash with full washing loads and not water their garden in the heat of day.

“While our ongoing investments in alternative water sources and water efficiency initiatives are increasing the resilience of our system, we’d like customers to consider how they could use water wisely,” Mr Cumming added.

To contend with increasingly warmer climates, Barwon Water’s storages are being supplemented by the Melbourne Geelong Pipeline.

A major upgrade later this year will increase the capacity and expand the reach of the pipeline.

“With rainfall becoming less reliable, we will need to be more water efficient, fix leaks and consider new water sources to ensure our rivers flow, food grows, and our footprint is low,” Mr Cumming said.

For more information, head to barwonwater.vic.gov.au/water-and-waste/permanent-water-saving-rules