Planning our future water needs
Our role is to manage the water needs for our customers now and into the future.
Climate data shows that South West Victoria has faced its driest 12 months on record, meaning that we’ve seen an increase in demand for water. At this stage we’re well prepared to meet the need for urban water across our region and there are no water restrictions on the horizon for our 45,000 customers.
However, we know that our farmers and rural customers are facing challenges right now and we’re helping where we can.
We’ve responded to increased demand for water carting, including adding extra water supply access points across our networks and supplying more metered hydrants. Where possible, we’ve also helped provide temporary water connections to our transfer mains so that farmers can fill dams.
If you’re worried about paying your bill, our Customer Support Team is available to talk through a range of options. They’ll work with you to find a suitable solution and will keep supporting you for as long as you need.
While we continue to keep a close eye on our supply systems we can all work together to manage and save our precious water supply.
Make every drop count
We’re calling on our customers and community to look at how they use water at home or work and to learn how to be water wise. It’s simple. Follow our easy-to-use water wise information and resources to start making the change today.
Take a look at our easy-to-use use water wise information and resources to help us make every drop count.
Handy tips
Our supply systems
The Otway system is the largest of Wannon Water’s systems, supplying water to more than 26,000 customers including Warrnambool, Koroit, Allansford, Camperdown, Terang, Mortlake, Lismore, Derrinallum and Simpson. It sources water from rivers and streams in the Otway Ranges, with multiple balancing storages that increase the security of supply. It’s also supplemented through the Warrnambool Roof Water Harvesting System and several bores.
There have been no restrictions for Otway customers since mandatory statewide restrictions were in place in the early 1980s. During this time, the system was still performing with a consistent and secure supply. We also have an emergency bore located near Curdievale which can be used under drought conditions when needed.
Hamilton, Dunkeld, Tarrington and Cavendish are supplied by the Grampians system. This system sources water from streams and bores in the Grampians National Park that provide a high level of water security. The system also includes a pump station that harvests water from Rocklands Reservoir to supply Balmoral and provides an additional back-up supply when needed.
While the recent dry conditions have impacted stream flows in the Grampians catchment, the supply has been supplemented by transferring water via the Rocklands pipeline.
Casterton, Coleraine, Sandford and Merino have very secure water supplies. The water is sourced from the Bridgewater Formation Aquifer via the Tullich bores, west of Casterton. A groundwater licence dictates the amount of water we can extract, with figures showing we only took around 40 per cent of our allocation in 2023/24.
Our customers in Glenthompson are supplied separately, with water harvested from two farmland catchments and stored in the Glenthompson Reservoir. This is supplemented through a pipeline from Willaura supplied by Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water.
We’re regularly monitoring storage levels within the Glenthompson reservoir and have transferred additional water from the town’s railway reservoir when required. This means we should be able to avoid restrictions in the town if the dry conditions continue.
We also have 10 groundwater systems that supply all other areas across the region. These systems were secure through the Millennium Drought and are expected to remain so in the future. Water restrictions are not normally part of the management of these systems.
