Stage two water restrictions will start in Euroa and Violet Town on Wednesday, May 28.
The restrictions will be in place to try to safeguard supplies, ensuring the system has sufficient water until storages recover.
The Euroa area experienced a hot and dry summer, followed by one of the driest starts to autumn on record.
Storages have declined to their lowest level since 2019, falling to below 20 per cent during May, compared to 77 per cent at the same time last year.
Goulburn Valley Water acting managing director Daniel Flanagan said the restrictions were aimed at best managing storage levels, and ensuring that the wider community was 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,” Mr Flanagan said.
“We’ll cart drinking water to Euroa and Violet Town to supplement supply when restrictions begin, and work with the Strathbogie Shire Council to supply alternative water for parks and sporting reserves.
“We will 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.”
Stage two water restrictions
Gardens can be watered using a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, bucket, or watering can at any time, on any day.
Residential and commercial lawns can’t be watered at any time.
Cleaning windows, hosing down hard surfaces, and washing vehicles is restricted.
Use of watering systems is only permitted between 6am and 8am, and 6pm and 8pm on alternate days, i.e. even- and no-numbered properties may water on even dates and odd-numbered properties may water on odd dates. All properties may water on the 31st of the month. Councils and schools can water sports grounds and gardens in accordance with the prescribed times.
Mr Flanagan said the continued dry conditions have increased town water use and reduced stream inflows into storages.
“This is during what is normally a period where storages are allowed to recover,” he said.
“We just haven’t had the autumn break we so desperately need.”
Euroa and Violet Town storages are harvested solely from creeks fed by the Strathbogie Ranges, making the water supply vulnerable during extended dry periods.
Goulburn Valley Water has invested in storage improvements in Euroa recently, constructing additional storage that came into use late last year.
However, Goulburn Valley Water wasn’t able to harvest any water to fill it due to low creeks flows.
Forecast growth, and a changing climate, means more investments will be made to maintain reliable long-term supplies in the area in the future.
Restrictions don’t apply to recycled water or tank water.
For more information, visit www.gvwater.vic.gov.au/restrictions or call 03 5832 4800.
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