Wet weather tops up city’s water storages

WATER reserves in the region have risen more than 20 per cent since March, with levels now higher than this time last year.

More than 50mm of rain has fallen in the past week, boosting reserves to 62.9 per cent of capacity or 59.6 billion litres. In March, Geelong’s water storage was at 41.9 per cent capacity.

Barwon Water strategy, systems and environment general manager Seamus Butcher said the region’s storage levels had seen a significant turnaround.

“Greater Geelong’s combined water storages … have climbed 11 per cent in the past fortnight following good rainfall and run-off in our catchments,” Mr Butcher said yesterday.

“While Greater Geelong’s total storages are now slightly higher than at this time last year, the Barwon system storages (which includes) the Otway ranges’ West Barwon Reservoir and the Wurdee Boluc (reservoir that) supply Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf Coast west to Anglesea are currently at 53.4 per cent capacity, 7.2 per cent lower than the same time last year.

“We expect storages to continue to rise in the short term due to natural rainfall and runoff into our rivers and reservoirs.”

More than 2.6 billion litres of water has been sourced for Geelong’s northern suburbs this year via a 59km underground pipeline connected to Melbourne.

The pipeline is capable of delivering up to 16 billion litres of water annually — roughly half of Greater Geelong’s usage.

All Barwon Water’s six reservoirs are more than 50 per cent full, data from the water authority shows.

The region’s largest reservoir Wurdee Boluc, west of Modewarre — which can hold 38 billion litres — is sitting at 53.1 per cent capacity, lower than the same time last year.

The Geelong area’s weekly water usage is at 4.84 billion litres, according to Barwon Water.

Current water prices are locked in until June 2023, and are approved by the Essential Services Commission.

Barwon Water supplies to Greater Geelong, areas of the Surf Coast Shire, Meredith, Shelford, Lethbridge, Cressy and Colac.