We know water sustains and cleans us and our environment. As Melbournians, we can trust that water is there when we need it, and it's safely removed when we don’t.
But our water supply is limited, making the water we already have our most valuable resource.
We are at a point when our demand for water could outstrip our supply, particularly in the drier years. So we need to protect our water supply to ensure we all have enough water, now and into the future.
So come on, Melbourne, let’s talk water!
Let’s talk about water with our friends, family and community. Because having these important conversations today will ensure our city is a great place to live.
Learn the basics about your water, so you can help shape and protect Melbourne’s water future.
Where does our water come from?
There’s no new water on earth.
All the earth’s water already exists, and it has been moving through the natural water cycle for billions of years.
Less than 1% of the earth’s water is available to drink.
Around 97% of earth’s water is in our oceans, making it unsuitable to drink (except through desalination).
Much of the freshwater on our planet is stored in glaciers and ice caps.
Population growth, urban development and climate change are affecting the quality and quantity of fresh water available globally.
Get to know the water cycle
Learn how water moves between the land, ocean and atmosphere to end up in your tap.
Climate change makes our rainfall less reliable.
We’re using more water than rain can provide alone. This means the drinking water we have today may not be available to us tomorrow.
Less reliable rain can dramatically impact our water supplies.
In fact, during the Millennium Drought we saw water storage drop 20% in a single year (2006).
Climate change brings hotter and drier weather. It can also shift rain patterns, causing less rain to fall onto areas where we need it.
A drier climate also has long-term effects on the way rain is absorbed and released into our reservoirs.
We all share the same water
Today, over 5 million Melburnians rely on our water storages daily.
Every time you turn on a tap to shower, water your garden or wash your car, you're tapping into our drinking water supplies.
So as the world changes, we need to adapt and find new ways to protect our water supply.
Here at Melbourne Water, we're dedicated to ensuring everyone enjoys the best, most reliable water.
We need to:
- make the best use of all water available, and use water more efficiently
- look at alternative water sources such as recycled water, groundwater and stormwater
- continue using our desalination plant to help build and maintain a buffer of water in our storages.
