Water usage in Tallangatta - Updated
Update: 8 February
Another incredible effort from the Tallangatta community in reducing water use yesterday.
Water storages have now returned to normal, and residents can resume using tap water as usual.
We appreciate your support and the fantastic efforts to conserve water during this time. Thank you!
Please remember that Permanent Water Saving Rules apply across all of Victoria. These includes only using watering systems between 6pm and 10am. More details here.
Update: 7 February 2025
A huge thank you to everyone for reducing the town’s water use by half yesterday – it made a big difference in rebuilding drinking water storage levels.
The water quality at our extraction point in the lake hasn’t improved, so we’re still running the plant at a reduced rate. To help make sure supplies are full heading into the weekend, we’re asking the community to continue limiting outdoor water use today.
We apologise for any inconvenience and truly appreciate your support during this time.
6 February 2025
North East Water is asking the Tallangatta community to help reduce outdoor water use over the coming days as we manage challenges at the town’s water treatment plant.
The Hume Dam is currently at 40% capacity - the lowest level since 2019. As water levels drop, the Tallangatta end of the dam transitions into a river channel, where we extract raw water. This water is significantly dirtier, making it more difficult for our treatment plant to produce enough treated water to meet high demand.
In January, Tallangatta’s water use reached 28 megalitres which is well above the five-year January average of 18 megalitres. This increased trend has continued into February due to the very hot weather and increased outdoor use by customers.
To help supplement the town’s supply, we are considering carting water from Wodonga, which may lead to an increase in water tankers on the Murray Valley Highway.
We urge residents to refrain from watering gardens and lawns or filling pools during this period. Consider taking shorter showers, running the washing machine and dishwasher only when full, and turning off taps while brushing teeth to further reduce water consumption.
We appreciate the community’s efforts in using water wisely and reducing outdoor water usage during this period.