Got a query?
Top five queries
- What assistance is available to help me with my water bills?
We understand that sometimes life gets tricky and you might be struggling with your water bills. If you’re struggling, get it touch with us as soon as possible and we can help you with initiatives such as:
- Payment arrangements
- Applying for concessions
- GWMWater Customer Support Program
- Utility Relief Grant Scheme
- Rebate Scheme
Find out more about concessions and grants or call us for a confidential discussion on 1300 659 961.
- What is allowed at GWMWater lakes and reservoirs?
Our lakes and reservoirs are not only sources of water, but also community areas for recreation and relaxation.
Lakes and reservoirs have different restrictions that you need to be aware of.
- What are the current water restrictions in my area?
All Victorian towns are under Permanent Water Savings Rules when staged water restrictions aren’t in place.
- How can I use water wisely?
There’s a number of simple adjustments you can make to your everyday life in order to use water wisely.
- What payment arrangements are available?
You can pay your bill in a few ways:
- BPAY - Biller Code 79855
- Direct Debit Payment by Centrelink (Centrepay)
- Credit card via POSTbillpay online or over the phone
- Payment in person at any Australia Post office or our Horsham office
- Via mail to PO BOX 481, Horsham, 3402
Outages and water quality alerts
Ararat Standpipe - Out Of Service
Reason: Out of Order
Starting: 9 am, 31 January 2023
This standpipe is out of service until further notice.
Expected operational date: Friday 3 February 2023.
We advise our customers to use the Cubbit Street, Great Western and Haughton Street, Stawell standpipes in the meantime.
Read more
Interruption to Water Supply - Ararat
Reason: Maintenance Works
Starting: 1 pm, 15 February 2023
Finishing: 4 pm, 15 February 2023
Our staff will have bottled water available near the work site for customers to collect.
Prior to the interruption please store sufficient water for your day's needs.
During the water supply interruption do not use any taps or water using appliances.
Read more
Interruption to Water Supply - Ararat
Reason: Maintenance Works
Starting: 8.30 am, 15 February 2023
Finishing: 10.30 am, 15 February 2023
Prior to the interruption please store sufficient water for your day's needs.
During the water supply interruption do not use any taps or water using appliances.
Read more
Interruption to Water Supply - Ararat
Reason: Maintenance Works
Starting: 11 am, 15 February 2023
Finishing: 12 pm, 15 February 2023
Prior to the interruption please store sufficient water for your day's needs.
During the water supply interruption do not use any taps or water using appliances.
Read more
Interruption to Water Supply - Ararat
Reason: Maintenance Works
Starting: 12 pm, 15 February 2023
Finishing: 1 pm, 15 February 2023
Prior to the interruption please store sufficient water for your day's needs.
During the water supply interruption do not use any taps or water using appliances.
Read more
Water Quality Alert - Brimpaen Area
Reason: Water Quality
Starting: 11.40 am, 13 January 2023
Customers with a rural supply in the Brimpaen, Laharum, Noradjuha, Natimuk and Wartook Valley areas may be experiencing discoloured water. GWMWater is monitoring and managing storages to improve water quality in this area.
Water is darker than normal in Lake Wartook due to high rainfall and flooding last year. With high summer demand on the system, the Brimpaen storages are being filled with coloured water from Wartook and the channel system. Water sampling is showing water quality flowing into the storages is improving. We anticipate the water quality in the supply system to improve over the coming weeks.
Read more
Blackwater Monitoring - Murray River
Reason: Blackwater in the Murray River
GWMWater filters water on our Murray River Pumping Systems however, this does not improve water quality during blackwater events. Some regulated towns supplies also have a minor level of treatment which has little impact on blackwater.
GWMWater operational staff will continue to manage treatment processes where possible, and flush pipes to help relieve some of the effects of blackwater. We expect water quality issues to continue for several weeks.
Customers can contact us 24/7 on 1800 188 586 to discuss any water quality concerns or report any sudden change in water quality.
GWMWater will provide further information to customers if the situation changes or if any actions need to be taken.
Read more
Blackwater Monitoring - Ultima
Reason: Blackwater in the Murray River
GWMWater filters water on our Murray River Pumping Systems however, this does not improve water quality during blackwater events. Some regulated towns supplies also have a minor level of treatment which has little impact on blackwater.
GWMWater operational staff will continue to manage treatment processes where possible, and flush pipes to help relieve some of the effects of blackwater. We expect water quality issues to continue for several weeks.
Customers can contact us 24/7 on 1800 188 586 to discuss any water quality concerns or report any sudden change in water quality.
GWMWater will provide further information to customers if the situation changes or if any actions need to be taken.
UPDATE: Ultima Drinking Water Upgrade Project
Construction works for the Ultima Drinking Water Upgrade will resume next week.
We expect water to Ultima will be supplied from the Swan Hill Treatment Plant by the end of February 2023.
We will regularly test the water quality and provide the results to the Department of Health to begin the process of confirming the water supply is suitable for human consumption. It is expected this process will take three months to complete.
We will continue to provide you updates as the project progresses.
Reminder: Customers are reminded that your untreated water supply is not safe for drinking.
Read moreBlue-green algae warnings
BGA - Eureka Water Storage and Surrounding Area
Last updateEureka Water Storage
Starting: 3.50 pm, 13 January 2023
Reason: Blue-Green Algae
Eureka Storage – Rural customers in surrounding area
** Water Pumps to remain on – no change to delivery **
AMBER Alert - BGA Levels currently 2.31 mm3L
Laboratory testing of water samples indicate that blue-green algae levels have decreased at the Eureka Storage.
Water delivered by the Eureka Storage is safe to use and is presently below the blue-green algae levels recommended for recreation purposes.
Urban Customers
This Amber Alert does not affect any urban water supplies.
Rural Customers
Rural customers will continue to be supplied from the Eureka Storage.
We recommend that you fill all on-farm tanks to maintain three days’ water supply in tanks on-farm.
Rural Water Quality
Customers are reminded that the raw water being supplied directly to farms through the pipeline or our water carting program is not fit for human consumption.
Water can be used for household activities, such as watering gardens, flushing toilets, irrigation and laundry.
Water Carting
If a blue-green algae Red Alert resumes, upon request, GWMWater will cart up to 28,000 litres of non-drinking water a month to your homestead for household use (i.e. bathing, dishes etc.) at no additional cost.
Standpipe Locations
If rural customers wish to continue carting water to their property at their cost, customers are able to source water from the designated standpipe across the region as listed below.
| • | Manangatang/Kulwin - Mallee Highway at the Daly Road and Crook Road crossroad (west of Manangatang) |
| • | Sea Lake - Lascelles Pump Station (south of Lascelles Township) |
| • | Berriwillock - Corner of Hopetoun-Woomelang Road and Woomelang South Road (west of Woomelang) |
| • | Chinkapook - Corner of Springfield Road and Hicks Road (south-east of Chinkapook) |
| • | Manangatang - Carr Road (south-west of Manangatang) |
| • | Nandaly - Nandaly-Tempy Road |
| • | Sea Lake - Corner of Gormans Road and Sea Lake-Swan Hill Road (east of Sea Lake) |
We will send an SMS to customers on the Eureka Storage system, who have provided us with their mobile phone details when water quality results indicate a change of alert in our three step blue-green algae scale listed below.
For information or advice on stock related issues:
1800 675 88 - Emergency Animal Disease Hotline (EAD Hotline)
136 186 - Agriculture Victoria
www.agriculture.vic.gov.au
If the water is intended to be used for spraying (excluding weed spraying), customers are advised to seek advice from their agronomist or rural supplier as the water could possibly foul filters on spray units due to the elevated concentration of blue-green algae cells.
We are continuing to monitor this situation and have activated our Blue-Green Algae Management Plan.
We will provide further updates as the situation changes.
Read more
Lake Wallace - Blue-green algae warning
Last update
Starting: 20 January 2023
Reason: Blue-Green Algae
Regular testing has detected levels of blue-green algae above levels considered safe for recreation use at Lake Wallace in Edenhope.
We warn the public to avoid direct contact with the water. People may still boat, sightsee and enjoy other activities at the lake that do not involve direct water contact.
Warning signs have been positioned at major recreational areas around the lake and will remain in place while the warning is current.
Read moreLake Lonsdale
LAST UPDATEDLake Lonsdale is a large, shallow reservoir on the Mt William Creek. It fills from its own catchment and is reliant on natural inflows. Although the catchment can be a substantial producer of water during wet years because of its very large area, it isn't reliable during times of drought. Given its relatively shallow depth, the lake also has high evaporation losses over summer months.
Since the introduction of the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline, the lake is no longer used by GWMWater for domestic or stock water supply, however it's still a key source of water for the environment. Lake Lonsdale also has an important role in the community as a recreational lake in the Stawell area, hosting a number of activities on its northern side, such as boating, fishing, swimming, camping and water skiing.
How to contact us
Where to find us
In person
Corporate Office11 McLachlan StreetHorsham Victoria
By post
PO Box 481Horsham Vic 3402
