A diversion licence is needed to take water from a waterway or dam for commercial or irrigation uses. In some instances a licence may also be required for domestic and stock use.

Water trading is the buying and selling of water entitlements by licence holders. Find out how to apply to trade water, or transfer your licence when selling your property.

All farm dam owners are legally responsible for the safety of their dams and any death, injury or damage they cause if they fail.

Under government policy and law, conditions apply to installing and altering meters, pumps and offtakes.

We produce stream flow management plans, local management rules and a Drought Response Plan to document the ways in which water will be managed to ensure it is shared fairly between diverters and the environment.

Read our privacy statement for the entire Melbourne Water website: what personal information is collected and how it is handled.

Learn how water moves naturally between the land, ocean and atmosphere, how it ends up in your home – and where it goes from there.

Melbourne has some of the highest-quality drinking water in the world. Learn how it makes its long journey to your tap.

Learn how our protected catchments provide high-quality drinking water.

Learn about our permanent water-saving rules, the Target 150 initiative and the last time water restrictions were implemented.