CHW Annual Water Outlook

Central Highland Water’s (CHW) latest Annual Water Outlook looks at our region’s water supply for the year ahead.

The 2022-23 report shows our region’s water resources are in a very good position for the warmer months ahead, but being water wise remains important.

The report provides a water resource projection for each of the region’s 15 water supply systems and looks into current water storage, groundwater levels and expected inflows, weather conditions and summer consumption to forecast the water supply for the coming year.

“After a wet winter and spring, our reservoirs are near capacity and ground water levels are normal, putting our water resources in a very good position for the summer months. The likelihood of water restrictions over the next 12 months is very low across all supply systems,” CHW Managing Director Jeff Haydon said.

A number of the region’s largest water supplies, such as Lal Lal Reservoir and Gong Gong Reservoir, reached capacity and spilled and Moorabool Reservoir spilled for the first time in 10 years.

Larger regional areas such as Daylesford’s 3 reservoirs, Wombat, Bullarto and Hepburn are also full. Maryborough’s surface water supply is currently at 96 percent, placing those communities in a very good position for annual water supply needs.

“A secure, safe and reliable water supply is essential to keep the community thriving and we again expect to meet community water supply demand from our local storages this year,” Mr Haydon said.

“Our community understands that water is a precious and limited resource, and we thank everyone in our region for continuing to be water wise. As we come into the summer period, it’s a great time to refer back to our Permanent Water Saving Rules and check that we’re doing the right thing, and saving water where we can.”

CHW continuously refers to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) updates on weather conditions and works closely with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and other water corporations to provide water to our region.

CHW’s Permanent Water Saving Rules are a set of common-sense rules that apply year-round to help everyone save water.

For more information on the Permanent Water Saving Rules and on CHW’s future water planning, visit chw.net.au/wateroutlook.