Visitors to Corin Dam are in for a surprise, with low rainfall causing water levels to recede to less than a third of its capacity.
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But Icon Water insists Canberra households and businesses will not face any water shortages this summer, despite combined levels across the territory's four dams sinking to their lowest point in five years.
Latest Icon Water figures show the territory's four dams - Corin, Bendora, Cotter and Googong - are at 67 per cent of their total 278 gigalitres capacity.
The Canberra Times this week visited Corin Dam, where the water level has dropped to 31 per cent of its 22GL capacity.
The sight of exposed, rocky embankments around the dam was in stark contrast to October 2010, when it was completely full.
Icon Water senior analytics engineer Tim Purves said below average rainfall during winter had diminished the dam's water stocks.
The region received just 7.8mm of rain in July, compared to an average monthly rainfall of 41.5mm.
August had 29mm, down from an average of 47.3, while September rainfall is tracking well below the usual level.
Mr Purves said despite low rainfall, there was "no immediate prospect" of water restrictions being imposed, stating the territory had enough water to withstand "the worst drought we have ever seen".
He said combined water levels at the four dams would have to drop to about 40 per cent before restrictions were even contemplated.
"I cannot see us getting anywhere near those levels this summer," he said.
"The good news is that it takes quite a while for storage to deplete.
"The system can withstand a few low rainfall years in a row without too many concerns."
Canberrans were hit with widespread water restrictions amid the devastation of the Millenium Drought, which broke in 2009.
Fears for the territory's future water security prompted the $409 million upgrade of Cotter Dam, which increased its capacity from 4 to 76 gigalitres.
Mr Purves said since the completion of the Cotter Dam expansion in 2013, it was not uncommon for Corin's water level to be "kept low".
"[Corin] is such a great source of water," he said.
"You can supply it to Canberra without having to pump it and its a reliable catchment because of its location.
"For that reason, we tend to use Corin the most."
