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Reliable water supply is essential

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to life, health and prosperity.

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It's been crucial

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for Melbourne's growth and status

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as one of the world's most liveable cities,

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which is why securing our water supply

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is so important to our future.

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We learnt during the Millennium Drought

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how quickly water storage levels can decline -

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20% in a single year

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and as much as 30% in a year and a half.

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So, we operate our water system

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to provide a buffer of water in our storages

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against the next drought,

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and also to help manage natural disasters

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like bushfires.

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In 2019, Melbourne's water storages

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were at the lowest they have been since 2011 -

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just after the Millennium drought –

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and have declined 30% in the last six years.

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Climate change is affecting our water supply.

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Winter and spring are becoming drier,

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and rainfall more variable.

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Greater Melbourne is using more water

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than our rainfall is providing.

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And even though we are quite good

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at conserving water,

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there are now more of us than ever before,

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putting greater demand on this precious resource.

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So, we must act now

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to ensure Melbourne's water supply remains secure.

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The good news is

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we learned a lot during the Millennium Drought.

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We know we cannot build more dams

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because less rainfall means

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there is less water to fill them.

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And we know that severe restrictions

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can reduce our quality of life.

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So, your water organisations

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are already working hard

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to extend the use of recycled water,

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to harvest more stormwater,

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and are partnering

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with the State Government and councils to plan

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for a more sustainable, water-sensitive city.

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We must also use our desalination plant

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to help rebuild and maintain our buffer

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of water in storages against the next drought.

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Our desalination plant can only supply

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one-third of our annual water needs,

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so we must use it early and regularly

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to help meet our water demand

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and restore storage levels.

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And, of course, we should continue

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our important water-saving habits.

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If we all reduce water use

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by just two-thirds of a bucket per day,

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we can hit our target of 155 litres per person

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per day or less.

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And then we can all continue

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to enjoy Melbourne's famous lifestyle

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with enough water for this

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and future generations.