Some of the Ballarat region's most important water supplies are filling to the brim as the Lal Lal Reservoir started to spill over the weekend.
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Central Highlands Water said a cooler than average summer combined with increased rainfall over recent months resulted in many reservoirs nearing capacity.
It is the fifth time the Lal Lal Reservoir has spilled since 1997 and it is expected to spill for the next three months, if not longer, due to an anticipated wet spring.
The Gong Gong Reservoir is also spilling, which will provide increased water flows into the lower catchments.
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Ballarat's total water storages are currently at 94 per cent, an increase on 82 per cent at this time last year.
The Gong Gong Reservoir has seen the biggest increase over last year, currently at 100 per cent capacity, up from 45 per cent last year.
Central Highlands Water managing director Paul O'Donohue said the high reservoir levels came after two wet winters and a mild summer in between.
"The 2020-21 summer was very mild and water demand was actually quite low during the summer months so we went into the autumn and winter already with good storage resources and this rainfall has just really added to that over the last 10 to 12 weeks," he said.
"We're now in a situation where we've got most reservoirs across the Ballarat region and Daylesford region are spilling or close to spilling."
Mr O'Donohue said the spills would create increased water flow in the waterways leading from the reservoirs, but not enough to overwhelm them.
"I think all of them would be in a pretty good position with passing flows and flows that are coming out of reservoirs into those waterways is a positive thing, absolutely," he said.
"While it's been above average, it's been spread over a period of time. We haven't had the storm events that maybe some other areas have had. Generally during winter, the weather patterns in the Central Highlands are pretty consistent and you probably wouldn't expect to see excess rainfall events based on the history of what we've seen over the years."
However, with wet conditions and improved flows through rivers and creeks expected, CHW reminded the community to be aware and listen to any advice from emergency services regarding potential flood warnings.
The latest Bureau of Meteorology outlook suggests the Ballarat area has a 75 to 80 per cent chance of exceeding median rainfall through the final four months of the year which could spell good news for CHW's water storages.
Mr O'Donohue said the region's water storages were healthy enough that he did not anticipate any water restrictions over summer.
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