Bendigo recorded the fourth highest increase in usage among major Victorian towns. It also recorded the highest increase of any town on Stage 2 restrictions or higher.

Bendigo ranked 12th overall for low water use in Victoria.

Household water consumption in Bendigo increased by about 27 megalitres in 2009 compared with 2008.

The State Government announced the water figures yesterday.

“The water-saving efforts of households right across Victoria in recent years have been remarkable,” Premier John Brumby said.

“What is even more pleasing is that water use has stayed relatively low despite the extremely hot and dry weather we experienced in 2009.”

Macedon and Sunbury have the lowest water use figures per person in Victoria. Residents of those towns use 145 litres each day, while Bendigonians use 202 litres.

After Macedon, Maryborough is the most miserly central Victorian water user, with each person using 167 litres per day.

Ballarat residents use 55 litres per day less than their Bendigo counterparts. In Echuca, people use an average of 95 litres per day more than they do in Bendigo.

Towns in the Goulburn Valley and near the Murray River use the most water. Shepparton and Congupna residents used 411 litres per person and people in Swan Hill used 412. Melbourne residents use an average of 154 litres.

Mr Brumby said the State Government hoped to ease restrictions in Melbourne soon. Melbourne has been on stage 3a restrictions for the past three years. Bendigo is currently on stage 3 restrictions.

“We are in a position . . . where virtually all of the areas outside Melbourne, the big country towns and provincial cities, have had water restrictions eased and we hope to be able to do the same for Melbourne,” he said.

Water Minister Tim Holding said high water use areas experienced higher temperatures than in Melbourne, historically high water use and had been on low levels of water restrictions for some time.

“It takes time to turn those things around,” Mr Holding said.

“The community has done an amazing job in reducing their household water use.”