Victoria’s shadow water minister has called for water restrictions to be reintroduced in Melbourne, arguing urban residents are being shielded from the effects of drought as the city experiences its driest start to the year on record.

Melbourne's water storages are at 51.9 per cent, their lowest level since November 2010. Credit:Wayne Taylor

Melbourne’s water storages have plummeted 10 per cent in the past four months – a drop as sharp as any that occurred during the Millennium drought, according to an analysis of Melbourne Water data.

Catchments were 51.9 per cent full on Tuesday, their lowest level since November 2010.

The city is experiencing its driest known start to the year, the Bureau of Meteorology says, with just 45.2 millimetres of rain falling by the Easter weekend.