Stable drinking water supply for Goulburn Valley

Goulburn Valley Water’s 2024 Annual Water Outlook confirms that water restrictions are unlikely this year and that the region’s water supply is stable.

According to the updated water security outlook published on Goulburn Valley Water’s website, only one of the 54 towns supplied by 13 rivers, creek, and groundwater supply systems will likely experience water restrictions in 2025.

Goulburn Valley Water Managing Director Dr Steve Capewell said the analysis considered several factors. Still, the major contributors to the outcome were strong storage levels and wetter catchments following the spring 2022 floods.

“All of the northern region’s water supply systems – the Murray River, Goulburn River, Seven Creeks, Nine Mile Creek, and Katunga’s groundwater have a very rare likelihood of restrictions, while the Delatite and Upper Delatite River, Brewery Creek, Steavenson River, Yea River and the Sunday Creek systems also have positive supply outlooks,” Dr Capewell said.

The Annual Water Outlook was developed using water demand projections, population growth predictions, climate modelling, and two-year forecast graphs.

The 2024 outlook is further bolstered by Agriculture Victoria’s December to February 2025 outlook, which projects average to above-average rainfall conditions.

Dr Capewell said Goulburn Valley Water produces an urban water strategy every five years to plan for short, medium, and long-term water availability and wastewater demand.

“The 2027 strategy will create more opportunities for the use of recycled water, which was a preference outlined by our customers during engagement for the development of the 2022 Urban Water Strategy,” he said.

The projects included in the current strategy are progressing well. One is a new pipeline connecting Numurkah to Nathalia, which is expected to be completed in 2027.

Upgrades to water treatment plants in Shepparton, Broadford, and Cobram, as well as a raw water pipeline in Mansfield, are also planned.

The Annual Water Outlook can be viewed here: Goulburn Valley Water Annual Water Outlook 2024

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