Water restrictions loom as dry conditions persist

By Ryan Bellingham

Jun 13, 2025

Extended dry conditions in Victoria have prompted Coliban Water to call for public conservation efforts. Pictured is Coliban Water’s Lauriston Reservoir. Photo by Supplied

Coliban Water is encouraging residents and businesses across the region to make every drop of water count.

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Extended dry conditions are impacting catchments statewide and managing director Damian Wells said the company would inform communities if restrictions would be necessary.

“We continue to monitor conditions closely while also investing in infrastructure to enhance the region’s long-term water security,” he said.

“Only 81mm of rain fell at Malmsbury Reservoir during autumn, 15mm of that in May. This is significantly lower than the long-term average of 162mm.”

Coliban’s storages near Kyneton are currently sitting at 36,000 megalitres, and have not been that low since 2018-19.

Mr Wells said the company had been using its 18 per cent share of Lake Eppalock since December, pumping water to supply the Bendigo area to protect other storages.

While the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting average rainfall in coming months, water restrictions may be required in some parts of the region if sufficient rainfall or run-off does not occur over winter and spring.

“Whilst the rainfall was a welcome sight over the weekend, only 28mm fell at Malmsbury with 201 megalitres of inflow for June to date,” Mr Wells said.

Effectively, Mr Wells said it was the equivalent of a single drop of water in a bucket.

The dry conditions also mean the 2025-26 rural season is likely to open on Tuesday, July 1 with a reduced allocation for the first time in 15 years.

Mr Wells said there was huge investment under way in various water security projects to support customers as the climate changes and the population grows.

“We are upgrading the Bendigo Recycled Water Factory and several of our water reclamation plants to boost the production of recycled water,” he said.

“We’ve commenced a 10-year-plus program of upgrades and renewals of major pipelines, water mains, pump stations and storages.”

Coliban Water has support available for customers facing hardship, and offers plumbing assistance programs to improve household water efficiency.

Customers can phone Coliban Water between 8am and 5pm from Monday to Friday on 1300 363 200, or visit https://coliban.com.au