THE mystery of the disappearing water supply at Gong Gong Reservoir has been solved with Central Highlands Water confirming water is being pumped from it into the White Swan catchment channels.
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Despite Ballarat's water supply sitting at a very healthy 81.6 per cent, Gong Gong Reservoir is the outlier which has dropped more than half of its total from the same time last year.
As of this week, the reservoir sits at just 44.3 per cent of capacity as opposed to 2019 when it was 91 per cent at the same time of the year.
Central Highlands Water managing director Paul O'Donohue says the reservoir is being used to top up other water supplies.
"During autumn, Central Highlands Water pumps the Gong Gong Reservoir into Pincotts Reservoir and allows it to flow into the White Swan Reservoir via our channel system," he said.
"Last year, the channel system was offline due to capital works, therefore the Gong Gong Reservoir remained full heading into winter.
"We anticipate the Gong Gong Reservoir to again fill this winter and begin the pumping process again in late summer and autumn."
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