Water use varies widely across north-east towns
16 September 2025
As the warmer months approach, North East Water has analysed weekly water usage across its service region — and the results show significant differences between towns.
General Manager Environmental Systems and Operations, John Day, said while every community depends on water for daily life, the data reveals some towns are using much more than others.
“For example, towns like Whitfield recorded average daily usage of 318 litres per person, while Bright and Oxley came in at around 230 litres. On the lower end, Walwa used just 133 litres per person per day,” Mr Day said.
“To put that into perspective, the difference between Whitfield and Walwa is equivalent to around six 4-minute showers per day.”
Mr Day said the average daily usage across the region was 202 litres per person.
“It’s fascinating to see how usage varies from town to town,” he said. “These figures highlight how much water we use — often without even noticing.
“This data gives us a great opportunity to reflect on our habits and consider how we can all use water more wisely.”
North East Water is reminding residents and visitors that Permanent Water Saving Rules (PWSR) are in place year-round across Victoria. These simple rules help ensure a sustainable water supply for everyone:
- Always use a trigger nozzle on your hose
- Only use watering systems between 6pm and 10am
- Never hose down concrete paths or driveways
By following these rules, everyone can all help reduce unnecessary water use and protect our water supply over summer.
Mr Day added, “Most of the region’s water storages are now in a much better position compared to earlier this winter, when water restrictions were a real possibility for several towns.
“However, the volume we’re permitted to extract from rivers this summer is lower than previous years. This could impact larger towns like Wodonga, Wangaratta and Yarrawonga, especially if demand increases during peak periods.
“We’re also closely monitoring Bright, where water usage remains high and the storage is low. If consumption doesn’t decrease there, we may need to introduce staged water restrictions there as early as December.”
Weekly water usage statistics are available here, while people can find great tips to reduce water consumption here.