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Drought on the Field: How Water Shortages Could Impact Victoria’s Sporting Future
SENZ • November 6th, 2025 4:20 pm
From suburban football ovals to country cricket grounds, the heartbeat of Victoria’s sporting culture depends on something often taken for granted — water. But a new study suggests that as the state’s water reserves continue to decline, the lush green fields that underpin Australia’s grassroots sporting identity could soon be at risk.
According to new research from Canberra-based J&J Plumbing Services, which analysed data from the Bureau of Meteorology and state population projections, Victoria now ranks fourth-lowest in Australia for water storage capacity per resident. The state’s annual average sits at just 1.85 million litres per person, a figure 71.4% below the national average of 6.47. With a total storage volume of 12,570,468 million litres and a population of 6.8 million, the numbers highlight a state under pressure to maintain both domestic water security and the green spaces that define its communities.
A Hidden Casualty: Grassroots Sport
While headlines often focus on urban water restrictions and household consumption, many local councils and sporting clubs are already seeing the tangible effects of declining water reserves. Maintaining turf for cricket, football, and athletics requires regular irrigation — something that becomes increasingly difficult under tighter water allocations.
At community level, this pressure is already being felt. In regional Victoria, several councils have had to impose irrigation limits on local ovals. “We’re already cutting back watering hours to stay within allocation,” says a representative from a local shire in northern Victoria. “Our football and cricket grounds are browning off earlier every season. The soil hardens, which increases injury risk and makes it harder for clubs to maintain participation levels.”
Grassroots sport in Victoria plays a vital role in local economies and community health. Every weekend, thousands of families gather at local ovals — not just for the game itself, but for the sense of community it fosters. However, if the grounds turn dry and unsafe, many rural clubs fear their seasons could be shortened or even cancelled in the years to come.
Councils Under Strain
The study by J&J Plumbing Services underscores a broader issue: local councils are struggling to keep up with both population growth and environmental changes. “The findings highlight the water security challenges facing Victoria and emphasize the need for careful planning and improved infrastructure to maintain a reliable water supply,” said a J&J Plumbing Services spokesperson. “With growing demand and changing climate conditions, managing water resources effectively has never been more important. Ensuring sustainable water practices will help protect the community and support long-term resilience.”
Some municipalities are already exploring solutions. In Melbourne’s outer suburbs, several councils have introduced stormwater harvesting projects, capturing runoff from roads and car parks to irrigate local parks and sports fields. Others are investing in drought-tolerant turf species and smart irrigation systems that adjust watering schedules based on soil moisture data.
But even these measures may not be enough if storage continues to decline. The Australian Capital Territory, which ranked lowest in the J&J Plumbing study with just 0.35 million litres per resident, has already had to ration public irrigation in several areas. South Australia (1.22 million litres) and the Northern Territory (1.16 million litres) also face similar constraints. While Victoria’s capacity is higher than those states, its dense population means pressure is concentrated — particularly in metropolitan regions.
The Sporting Cost of a Dry State
The cultural importance of sport in Victoria can’t be overstated — it’s where lifelong friendships form, where kids learn teamwork, and where entire towns unite. Yet maintaining those sporting spaces comes at a cost. Irrigating a single full-sized AFL ground can require 10 to 15 million litres of water per year — the equivalent of supplying 70 average households for the same period.
With reduced rainfall and competing urban demand, councils are facing impossible choices: prioritise water for households, or for community recreation.
“It’s not about sport versus survival,” says one Melbourne council manager. “It’s about balance. But that balance is getting harder to achieve.”
Infrastructure and Innovation: A Way Forward
Experts say the solution lies not just in conservation but in smarter infrastructure. The J&J Plumbing study’s authors suggest that states like Victoria will need to modernise their water systems, investing in recycled water networks, desalination back-ups, and community-level stormwater reuse projects.
In places like Tasmania, which tops the list with an astounding 38.79 million litres of water per resident, water security has supported vibrant recreational infrastructure and tourism. By contrast, Victoria’s smaller reserves mean the state will need to plan carefully if it wants to sustain its reputation as Australia’s sporting heartland.
Sports Victoria, a peak body representing hundreds of local clubs, has already called for more government support for sustainable irrigation. They advocate for subsidies to help clubs transition to reclaimed water, solar-powered pumps, and water-efficient turf management.
Climate, Community, and the Future of the Game
As climate patterns shift, the connection between water security and community sport becomes impossible to ignore. The Bureau of Meteorology’s long-term data already shows reduced rainfall across key catchments feeding Victoria’s reservoirs. If trends continue, the cost of maintaining green sporting fields could double within a decade — a burden that small community clubs simply cannot bear.
Ultimately, this is not just a story about drought — it’s about what Victoria stands to lose if the issue isn’t addressed. Sport has always been a cornerstone of Victorian life. From Saturday morning cricket to suburban football rivalries, it’s part of the state’s cultural fabric. Protecting those spaces means protecting more than just turf — it means preserving the community connections that make Victoria unique.
As J&J Plumbing Services concludes in its study, “Managing water resources effectively has never been more important.” The next decade will determine whether Victoria’s iconic sporting culture can stay green — or whether drought will leave its fields, and its future, running dry.
Methodology
The study analysed 2025 state population estimates and total water storage capacities across all eight Australian states and territories. The study reviewed population projections and official storage volumes to identify regions with the highest and lowest per-capita water availability using data from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. For each state, total storage volume (in million litres) and population figures were used to calculate water storage capacity per resident.
Data Sources:
Water Storage Data: https://www.bom.gov.au/water/dashboards/#/water-storages/summary/state
Data Set:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Eaj3vPizOurY3cpb5-WBM0QsygPQpP9Wfor_hdwXHA0/edit?gid=0#gid=0
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Eaj3vPizOurY3cpb5-WBM0QsygPQpP9Wfor_hdwXHA0/edit?gid=0#gid=0
Study By: www.jandjplumbingservices.com.au
