FOLLOWING one of the driest starts to autumn on record, Goulburn Valley Water will introduce Stage 2 water restrictions to Euroa and Violet Town, starting Wednesday, May 28.
Harvesting water from rain-dependent rivers and streams, storages that supply the service area have declined to their lowest level since 2019.
No lawn watering (residential or commercial).
Gardens: Use hand-held hose with trigger nozzle, bucket or watering can anytime.
Watering systems: Only 6–8am and 8–10pm on alternate days:
Even/no-numbered properties on even dates.
Odd-numbered properties on odd dates.
All properties on the 31st.
Restricted: Car washing, hosing hard surfaces, window cleaning. Please note, restrictions do not apply to recycled water or tank water.
For more information visit www.gvwater.vic.gov.au/restrictions or call 03 5832 4800.
Goulburn Valley Water has determined the restrictions are necessary to safeguard supplies and to ensure the system has sufficient water until storages recover. GVW said in a statement issued this morning that storages have fallen below 20 per cent during May – compared to 77 per cent at the same time last year.
Acting Managing Director Daniel Flanagan said the stage two restrictions are aimed at best managing storage levels and ensuring that the wider community is using water efficiently and wisely.
“We have held on as long as possible to limit the impact restrictions will have, but unfortunately we are unable to avoid this transition any longer,” he said.
“The continued dry conditions have had a significant impact – increasing town water use and reducing stream inflows into our storages. This is during what is normally a period where storages are allowed to recover. As the area is acutely aware, we just haven’t had the autumn break we so desperately need.”
Mr Flanagan said GVW will cart drinking water to Euroa and Violet Town to supplement supply when restrictions begin and that it will work with the Strathbogie Shire Council to supply alternative water for parks and sporting reserves.
“We’ll also continue to closely monitor storages, usage trends and rainfall forecasts, with an eye to lifting restrictions as soon as we can. However, it is important to note that we may need to escalate restrictions if the dry conditions continue.”
Both Euroa and Violet Town storages are harvested solely from the creeks fed by the Strathbogie Ranges. This makes the water supply vulnerable during extended dry periods in summer and autumn.
GVW said it has invested in storage improvements in Euroa in recent years, constructing an additional storage that came into use late last year and was ready to be filled at the start of autumn.
Unfortunately, GVW was not able to harvest any water to fill it due to low creeks flows. This storage will be filled when creek flows reach a level that allows harvesting.
GVW said that forecast growth, and changing climate, means more investments will be made to maintain reliable long-term supplies in the area in future. With water storages across GVW’s systems in the Goulburn Valley region at record low levels – about 60 per cent lower than the same time last year – and several towns across the service area relying on water harvested from rain-dependent rivers and streams, residents are urged to be mindful about their water usage.
GVW said residential demand accounts for the majority of water use, meaning that reducing household water consumption can have a significant impact.
