Water Storages Drop Across Victoria

Water supplies across Victoria are tightening, with new figures showing storage levels have fallen sharply after successive dry years, placing increasing pressure on fast-growing outer suburbs such as Wyndham.

The Victorian Annual Water Outlook, released on 23 December 2025, shows statewide water storages are sitting at an average of 61 per cent full — an 18 per cent drop compared with last year.

Urban water restrictions were reintroduced during 2025, the first time since 2020 they have been required.

During the 2024–25 year, Melbourne used around 200 billion litres more water than flowed into storages, resulting in the steepest annual decline since the Millennium Drought.

While 50 billion litres of desalinated water was delivered in 2025 to support Melbourne, Geelong and parts of Gippsland, overall consumption continued to exceed inflows.

For Wyndham, the outlook highlights the combined impact of population growth and declining rainfall.

Rapid development across suburbs such as Tarneit, Truganina, Mambourin, Manor Lakes and Wyndham Vale continues to add demand to a system already under strain, particularly during warmer months.

Permanent Water Saving Rules remain in place across Victoria, restricting watering times, requiring trigger nozzles on hoses and limiting the hosing of hard surfaces.

A recent review found community awareness of these rules has declined over the past decade, despite no major changes to the regulations.

The state government will run a “Make Every Drop Count” water-saving campaign over summer, aimed at reducing household consumption and limiting the need for tighter restrictions.

Modelling in the outlook indicates Victoria will require an additional 95 billion litres of water per year over the next decade, even with the Victorian Desalination Plant operating at full capacity.

Future supply is expected to rely on a combination of water efficiency measures, recycled water, stormwater use and desalination.