Securing Our Water Supply
Drought and climate change mean that Melbourne must find new sources of water. Dams and reservoirs will continue to be a major supply source. But they are providing much less water than they used to, and this decline has accelerated.
The water shortage
Melbourne's reservoirs are at persistently low levels.
Water flowing into reservoirs is about 40% less than the long term average (1913 - 1996). More on the water shortage.
How we’re fixing it
No single water source can provide the water we need in the timeframe we have - so on top of ongoing water savings, 3 diverse projects will deliver the extra water we need:
- Reconnection of Tarago Reservoir
- Sugarloaf Pipeline
- Wonthaggi Desalination Plant
The role of dams
It’s understandable that people wonder why we don’t just build more dams.
But our dams and reservoirs just aren’t filling the way they used to. More on the role of dams.
Water tanks - their role
Water tanks are a great idea. They save drinking water, help keep our gardens alive, and reduce stormwater pollution being washed down the gutter and into rivers and bays. But they are limited in how much they can deliver in the short term. More on rainwater tanks.
More recycled water
Melbourne recycles more water across all uses than any other major city in Australia. About 23% of Melbourne’s sewage is treated and reused for non-drinking purposes each year by industry, local councils and farmers.
We’re planning to recycle more. More recycled water.
Other sources of water
As part of the community debate about water, lots of different ideas for increasing our water supplies come up. Some of these include: harvesting stormwater, a pipe from Tasmania, and changes to water pricing. Some facts on other sources of water.