CHW managing director Paul O’Donohue said the Goldfields Superpipe, plus entitlements to northern catchments, has Ballarat in good stead should the expected dry summer continue long term.

“It looks like we are in for a dry summer,” Mr O’Donohue said.

“We have had minimal run off in our catchments over winter and spring.

“Has that created issues? Not really, because in the context of having over 60 per cent of capacity in our local reservoirs, as well as the use of entitlements out of the northern system – which is predominantly the Goulburn (Murray Water) system – we’re in a pretty reasonable space heading into summer.

“We have at least five years supply sitting there today without anything else happening. Our view is even if we have a dry summer, we’ll still come out the back end with a healthy portfolio of water resources to us.”

In mid-October, The Courier reported on a drop in water storages due to a strong El Nino, with CHW storages totaling 40,104 megalitres – 5000 megalitres less than the same time last year. 

The principle cause of the drop in storage levels is the El Nino, which reduces the amount of normal run-off into catchments as spring rains fail to materialise.

This October is one of the driest and warmest on record, as well as the eighth consecutive month to experience below average rainfall. 

Mr O’Donohue revealed CHW accessed the superpipe for the first time in late autumn. The pipe is operating at a third of its total capacity, but still pumping 16 megalitres into local catchments per day.

“That was certainly a big addition to our infrastructure and has given us another capability and capacity share across the state as part of an expanded water group,” he said.

“We see it as partly an insurance policy, but also as just part of the total movement of water as an asset across the state to various locations and various needs.”

CHW also receives an influx of 9700 megalitres from the Goulburn and Murray systems as well as 11,400 litres from the Campaspe system, but has not purchased entitlements this year.

“If there is a three or four year drought, we believe we will still have the capability to be supplying either under permanent water saving rules or at low levels of restrictions,” Mr O’Donohue said.

“Our view is (backing) permanent water saving rules – we will hold on that position as long as we can assuming there is adequate resource space both locally and in the Goulburn system.

Mr O’Donohue also said Ballarat residents rank among the best in the state for water usage per household.

Research from CHW shows Ballarat residents use on average about 150 kilolitres of water per household from 2012-2014 – on par with the amount used in a Melbourne household during the same period.

The Victorian average ranks at over 160 kilolitres from 2012-14, however, the average household consumption for regional Victorians during that time is more than 180 kilolitres.

“I think people are really water sensitive and savvy around water they do or don’t use,” Mr O’Donohue said.

“The millennium drought (during the 2000 years), which certainly affected Ballarat and the whole Central Highlands region, showed that people came to appreciate the value of water.”

CHW is also a keen advocate for the Choose Tap program, which encourages the use of tap water. Statistics show that the $3 spent on a one-litre bottle of water could fill a drink bottle the same size every day for two years, while 50 per cent of plastic bottles end up as landfill or litter.

Local residents are encouraged to phone in major leaks to local water supply systems. Leaks can be reported on the customer service line on 1800 061 514, with representatives available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

All CHW systems will remain on permanent water saving rules over the summer of 2015-16.