Recent rainfall has led to more water being available for high reliability water share (HRWS) holders than earlier this year, but less than the same time last year.
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HRWS holders in the Goulburn and Loddon systems are now entitled to 47 percent of their water after the Northern Victoria Resource Manager updated the 2018/19 seasonal determination and outlooks on Wednesday.
The determination saw HRWS in the Goulburn and Loddon systems increase by 10 percent.
A hundred percent of HRSW shares in Campaspe system, which contains Bendigo, remain guaranteed.
Seasonal determinations show water entitlement holders how much water they have available for use in their accounts.
Resource Manager Mark Bailey said the determinations were fairly similar to those at the same time last year, but slightly lower.
Dr Bailey said dry conditions meant the outlook was not as promising as this time last year.
Most of central Victoria has received less than 80 percent of its average rainfall over the past six months according to Bureau of Meteorology data.
Much of the area north of Bendigo has received less than 60 percent of its average rainfall.
Dr Bailey said the increase in water available since the previous determination was thanks to welcome rainfall in the past few weeks.
He said the seasonal determinations were based on how much water is in storage and how much would flow in during the next six weeks, irrespective of rainfall.
He said conservative calculations meant that Goulburn Murray Water would always be able to supply the volume of water indicated as high reliability shares in the determination report.
The climate outlooks however favoured drier conditions, Dr Bailey said.
Most of the water systems in northern Victoria tracked close to a ‘dry’ outlook in July, meaning they could expect less water flowing into their storages than in 90 years out of every 100.
Dr Bailey said consecutive years of drought would begin to impact on water availability as reserves began to be drawn down. He said the dry conditions had now continued for the past 18 months.
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Elspeth Kernebone
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
