Region's water storages still low despite recent soaking rain
Much-needed rain, including 62mm at key storages near Kyneton in recent weeks, has done little to top-up the region’s water supplies.
Coliban Water Managing Director, Damian Wells, said a lack of ground moisture in the region’s catchments means the rain soaked into the ground and started to fill farm dams, but did not deliver enough run-off to shift storage levels in a meaningful way.
“While good news for farmers, parks, gardens, and fire-affected areas, our combined storages remain at 57% capacity today, while Coliban Water’s share of Lake Eppalock sits at 29% capacity.
“The dry conditions are placing continued pressure on the water supply across our whole region, compounded by reduced inflows after more than two years of below average rainfall, a hot summer that increased demand to record levels, and longer-term changes to climate patterns,” he said.
“Two years ago, our combined storage levels were at 88% at the same time of year, demonstrating the dramatic change in a relatively short period.”
Coliban Water typically receives its biggest inflows during winter and spring, but for 2025/26 we have so far only received 12,700 megalitres compared to the long-term median of 28,600 megalitres. The Bureau of Meteorology is now predicting lower-than-average rainfall and warmer temperatures for Autumn 2026.
“In addition to our drought preparedness plans and longer-term investment in water efficiency projects, we’re asking all customers to do their part to help conserve water,” Mr Wells said.
“Given the ongoing dry conditions and our current resource position, like other water corporations around the state we are currently preparing the community for water restrictions if our position does not improve over winter and spring.
“The 2026/27 rural season, which opens for our rural customers in July, is likely to again open with a reduced allocation.
“In 2025/26 the rural season opened with a 30% allocation, which was reviewed monthly and progressively increased in line with storage levels.
“We will continue to keep our rural customers informed of our water resource position throughout the rural season via monthly communication and SMS messages,” he said.
Mr Wells added that Coliban Water’s urban customers are also being urged to follow the state’s Permanent Water Saving Rules and act now to conserve water.
“Details of Victoria’s Permanent Water Saving Rurales and other strategies to help people be more water conscious are set out on our website. We know simple measures like keeping showers to four minutes, only washing full loads, checking for leaking tap fittings, only watering gardens between 6pm and 10am, and not watering hard surfaces add up to a big difference.
“The reality is declining levels in the region’s water storages are a reminder that every drop counts. We are approaching levels where we may need to consider water restrictions next summer if adequate rainfall and run-off is not received over winter and spring.”
Water restrictions were last in force in the Coliban Water region in 2011.
In February, Coliban Water commenced community consultation for the development of its updated Urban Water Strategy and Drought Preparedness Plan, the key planning tool for the delivery of a safe and sustainable water supply for our region for the next 50 years.
Coliban Water’s urban customers can help shape the strategy by contributing their thoughts via an online survey or forums. More information is available at www.connect.coliban.com.au/uws2027.
Further information about allocations for the 2026/27 rural season is available at www.coliban.com.au/rural.
Last updated on 10 Mar 2026