Restrictions reverted to Permanent Water Saving Rules on Thursday, May 7.
With more than 130 mm of rain recorded at the Waterhouse reservoir monitoring station at the start of May, both Waterhouse and Mountain Hut reservoirs are now spilling significantly for the first time since late 2018.
Additional inflows are also being captured and stored in the two Abbinga reservoirs, with levels expected to be further boosted with forecast winter rains and continuing flows in Seven Creeks.
Stage 2 water restrictions were introduced on April 11, 2019, after consecutive dry winters and warm summers, which had prompted high ongoing water demand in some areas.
In December, January and February, Euroa and Violet Town residents used 237 megalitres of water under Stage 2 water restrictions, compared to 306 Ml in summer 2018 to 2019 — a decrease of 29 per cent.
Goulburn Valley Water service delivery general manager Daniel Flanagan said he hoped easing restrictions would provide relief for residents and businesses.
“I’d like to recognise the patience from the Euroa and Violet Town communities; these restrictions have been in place for a long time and we appreciate everyone’s understanding,” he said.
“We know that longer-term restrictions can be inconvenient, but your efforts to adopt water saving habits during the past 13 months have helped to ensure the security of the water supply during another dry winter and warm summer.
“Our storage levels are recovering with ongoing rainfall and water conservation efforts, and restrictions are being replaced with the Permanent Water Saving Rules.”
Key water saving measures under the Permanent Water Saving Rules include watering gardens with a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or using a watering system only between 6 pm and 10 am, using a broom or a blower to clean hard surfaces and using a bucket or hose fitted with a trigger nozzle to wash cars.