Until the outcome of the 2025 federal election, the Australian Government is operating under caretaker conventions

National Water Account 2019

Melbourne: Key findings

For the water account period 1 July 2018–30 June 2019

  • Below-average annual rainfall contributed to low streamflow across the region.
  • Storages at 30 June 2019 were 53% full, the lowest end of year storage volume since 2010.
  • Total consumptive water use was 513 GL, similar to last year.

Climate and water

Rainfall

Rainfall icon

691 mm

below the average of 852 mm

Streamflow

Streamflow icon

below average

for most of the year

Storage

Storage icon

53% full

arrowpointingdown

13% less than last year

Water use

Water sourced

Graph showing breakdown of water sources used in the Melbourne region. A total of 513 GL of water was used in the region in 2018–19. Surface water made up 92% of total water use; 4% was from groundwater and desalinated water made up 4% of the water use.

Water supplied

Graph showing breakdown of water users in the Melbourne region. A total of 513 GL of water was supplied to users in 2018–19. 91% of total water supply was for the urban system; 8% was for individual users and 1% was for inter-region supply.

Water status

Entitlements

690 GL

total surface water and groundwater allocations

Water assets

1,603 GL

water assets at 30 June 2019

161 GL less than last year

Outlook

Increase

in storage expected during the 2019–20 year