WITH barely 20mm of rain in Loddon districts this year, Southern farmers have tapped into a life-saving 65,000 kilolitres of pipeline water since December.
GWMWater said demand had risen for supply from the South West Loddon pipeline.
“Dry conditions have resulted in a more than 50 per cent increase to water used on the South West Loddon Pipeline this summer, compared to last summer,” a spokesperson said.
“Between December and February 28 customers used 64,636 kilolitres of water, equivalent to almost 26 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
GWMWater has secured funding to improve the quality of water supplied from the Waranga Channel. This will improve the flexibility of the system from a water source perspective, without compromising the quality of water supplied.
GMW’s Laanecoorie Reservoir was this week holding 2970 ML - 37.13 per cent. Last year it was at 34.25 per cent capacity.
According to Loddon Shire yesterday, demand for water at local standpipes has ballooned. 
So far this year, 3774 kilolitres has been drawn from the standpipes compared with 1084 kilolitres between January 1 and March 16 2024. A Coliban Water upgrade of the Wedderburn standpipe was delayed earlier this year.