Water storages and supplies are predicted to remain secure across the Barwon region over the next two years, despite a testing period marked by rising use and low rainfall.
In its Annual Water Outlook, Barwon Water has found a ‘rare’ chance of the region’s largest population areas requiring water restrictions between now and December 2026.
The Lorne and Apollo Bay systems are similarly secure, with the prospect of water restrictions also ‘rare’ between now and December 2026.
The Colac and Gellibrand systems are also classified as ‘very rare’, even under the worst climatic conditions.
The Bureau of Meteorology is monitoring a La Nina event, and the region is projected to experience slightly above-median rainfall this summer.
Barwon Water Managing Director Shaun Cumming said investing in alternative water sources was essential to ensuring supplies kept up with a rising population and changing climate.
“As the region continues to attract more residents and there’s growing demand for our services, we need to tip the balance from relying on rainfall to more climate-resilient sources.
“This includes increasing our use of and exploring opportunities for manufactured water, such as recycled water for non-drinking water purposes.
“All water matters, so we’ll continue to focus on water efficiency and conservation measures to ensure we’re smart and sustainable with our resources.”
The Barwon Water region added about 9,000 residents in 2023/24, contributing to an 11 per cent increase in demand compared to the previous financial year.
This population growth occurred during a period of historically low rainfall.
The West Barwon catchment, the second-largest storage area in the Geelong region, is about 30 per cent below average.
This helped Geelong’s water storages – which were 80 per cent full at the start of 2024 – to decline to around 60 per cent in late November.
However, as part of Barwon Water’s push to diversify its sources, 2.5 billion litres of water transferred via the Melbourne to Geelong Pipeline supplemented the storage.
Further investments in the Melbourne to Geelong Pipeline are on the way, extending the network’s ability to supply more of our customers and allowing water to be returned to the Moorabool River.
The full 2024 Annual Water Outlook can be viewed at www.barwonwater.vic.gov.au/water-and-waste/annual-water-outlook
For more on longer-term water supply planning, Barwon Water’s Urban Water Strategy – which contains a 50-year outlook – is available at www.barwonwater.vic.gov.au/water-and-waste/water-for-our-future
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