Canberra has little to fear from a return to drought conditions, according to the ACT's water utility.

Actew Corporation says the territory has the water infrastructure to handle a return to Australia's big dry, despite delays in the construction of the expanded Cotter Dam.

The government-owned corporation said a forecast El Nino weather pattern, expected to hit eastern Australia in the next three months, would not dramatically affect the city's water storage levels and it would take several years of low rainfall before water restrictions were enforced.

The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted a fresh El Nino pattern will set in in the latter stages of winter or during spring, bringing with it warmer and drier conditions than the territory has experienced in the past two years.

But senior meteorologist Sean Carson said the pain of the drought-inflicting weather pattern would not be as severe this time around.