Water Security Update - May 2026

Our local water storage level is steady – Candowie Reservoir is at 50% capacity. This is a strong improvement from the same time last year, when storage sat at 42.5% (31 May 2025).
Welcome catchment runoff and inflow – Candowie Reservoir has received its first official inflows of the season, boosted by a total of 105.5 mm of rainfall in May.
A wetter May in the catchment – Rainfall for May 2026 reached 105.5 ML, a significant increase compared to May 2025, which saw only 40.4 mm.
We continue to monitor water resources carefully – and we will actively use the available water supply sources to manage demand where necessary.
Our drinking water relies on rainfall captured in the Candowie Reservoir. However, as our climate becomes hotter and drier, we can no longer rely on the reservoir refilling like it used to.
Every drop of water we save today makes a big difference for our future water supplies. Let’s work together to be water-wise and protect our drinking water.

Permanent Water Saving Rules are in place across Victoria every day of the year. These simple, common-sense rules aim to ensure that we all use drinking water wisely to reduce waste and ensure we’re doing our part to safeguard it for generations to come.
The Rules focus on outdoor water use and apply only to drinking water – not greywater, rainwater, bore water, or recycled water.
- HOSES – Hoses must be leak free with a trigger nozzle for all uses, including washing cars and gardens. Trigger nozzles ensure less water is wasted.
- GARDEN WATERING – Home and commercial gardens can only be watered between 6pm and 10am, if using a sprinkler or watering system. This avoids the hottest part of the day when water wastage occurs due to evaporation. You can water gardens at any time using a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, watering can or bucket.
- HARD SURFACES – Water must not be used to clean hard surfaces such as concrete, paths and driveways. Swapping to a broom will save a lot of water from being washed down the drain.
- PUBLIC GREEN SPACES – Public gardens, lawns and playing surfaces (e.g. bowling greens, sporting ovals and pitches) can be watered: by a sprinkler or watering system fitted with a rain or soil moisture sensor between 6 pm and 10 am.
- FOUNTAINS AND WATER FEATURES – Must recirculate the water.

Efficient use of water in homes plays an important role in helping conserve Victoria’s water supplies and avoiding water restrictions in the future.
It’s the everyday water-saving habits – from the backyard to the bathroom – that collectively help conserve our water supplies.
Shorter showers, leak-free taps and smart garden watering are all easy wins for water saving in the home.
We can all play our part to make every drop count. Visit Make Every Drop Count to find out more about the actions you can take at home to save water at home.

Westernport Water is aiming to increase the use of recycled water for fit-for-purposes uses to help conserve drinking water supplies, while also improving the health of our waterways.
Recycled water is being used across Phillip Island for a range of purposes – from supporting agriculture to keeping parks, gardens and sporting facilities green.
Every litre of recycled water used for greening open spaces, flushing toilets, laundry use and in some commercial uses is a litre of water we don’t have to take from drinking water supplies.
Recycled water is treated to high standards so it can be used in residential areas, safely irrigate farms and to green spaces, like it does at the Phillip Island Community Orchard.
If you have lost your purple outside garden tap top security key, we have replacements available at our head office in Newhaven.

Key messages – Water security update – 31 May 2026Key messages – Water security update – May 2026

Water Security Update – May 2026