Water Storage Levels

Water supply in the lower Hunter is vulnerable to drought - our dams fill quickly but they empty quickly as well.

Our water levels drop faster than most other major Australian urban centres during drought because we have shallow water storages and high evaporation rates.

The graph below shows the total volume of water stored in the dams supplying water to the Lower Hunter region. This supply is drawn from a combination of surface storages and groundwater resources.

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Water storage levels - last updated 31 January 2012

Water Source Maximum Capacity (ML) Current Volume (ML) % Full
Chichester 21500 21500 100%
Grahamstown 189991 181346 95.4%
Tomago 60000 57586 96%
Anna Bay 16024 10440 65.2%
Total Storage 287515 270872 94.2%

  • Frequently Asked Questions

    • When are water storage levels updated on the website?

      Answer

      Water storage levels are updated on our website each week.

    • Where does my water come from?

      Answer

      If you live within our area of operations, your water comes from Grahamstown Dam , Chichester Dam , Tomago Sandbeds  or Anna Bay Sandbeds.

    • When do water restrictions come into effect?

      Answer

      Hunter Water’s Drought Management Plan outlines the four stages of water restrictions we would experience if water storage levels in our dams dropped. 

      The four stages are:

      Stage 1 restrictions – 60% Water Storage Levels

      Ban fixed sprinklers and limited hours use of hand held hoses

      Stage 2 restrictions – 50% Water Storage Levels

      Same as Stage 1 with use of hand held hoses limited to 2 days per week.

      Stage 3 restrictions – 40%

      Ban use of mains water for outdoor use.

      Stage 4 restrictions – 30%

      Complete ban on outdoor use.