Alarming water levels leave Victorians facing restrictions

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Victoria's water storage levels have plummeted by the largest amount since the millennium drought amid warmer weather and lower rainfall.  A new outlook is now warning more Victorians face restrictions over the next year.

Transcript

00:00A dramatic drop in Victoria's water storages.

00:06So we've actually hit 75% storages for metropolitan Melbourne which is some of the lowest levels

00:13we've seen in the last decade.

00:15Warmer weather and lower rainfall has led to an almost 20% drop compared to this time

00:20last year.

00:21Last year was particularly dry, especially across western and southern parts of the state

00:25and then this year we are still looking to be slightly below average in terms of rainfall.

00:29Stage 1 restrictions are already in place in some areas including Euroa, Violet Town,

00:34Dalesford and Apollo Bay.

00:36Residents there can't hose down hard surfaces like driveways or use watering systems at certain times.

00:43The state's water outlook is now warning dozens of towns could face the same by the end of next year

00:50if conditions are dry or the worst on record.

00:53Towns including Fish Creek, Bright and Mansfield the most likely to be restricted

00:58prompting calls for better planning to cope with population growth.

01:02There's going to be 3,900 new homes slated for Mansfield by 2051.

01:10Where will the water come for those homes?

01:13305 billion litres flowed into Melbourne's four major storages this year

01:18but Victorians used 500 billion litres.

01:21Water saving rules replaced formal restrictions in Melbourne in 2012

01:26but with a surge in the amount of water people are using there's concern Victorians have become complacent.

01:33At the moment we're up to 169 litres per person per day which is actually the highest level that's been since 2007.

01:41The government says it's monitoring the water levels and is encouraging people to use water saving techniques

01:47like taking shorter showers and fixing leaks.

01:50The rentals are only at 10,000kg which are due to the 1990s.

01:51The penitentiary was used in a few days, so it's for 10,000kg.

01:53The floor is being at a high level.

01:54The water is small because the smoke has been below.

01:55The water is much lower right, so pretty much lower.

01:56The water is working on one side and now is going to be CGT.

01:57The water will be well enough to be disabled.

01:58The water is really needed.

01:59Real use to rely on the water level for the water and the water is a little bit.

02:02The water needs to be removed and water from the water can be removed.

02:04The water is of the water and is so used to turn it on the water in the water by the water.

02:07The water is removed from the water.

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