The City of Melbourne practices Integrated Water Management, defined as the coordinated management of all components of the water cycle including water consumption, rainwater, stormwater, wastewater and groundwater, to secure a range of benefits for the wider catchment. This includes capturing and treating local rainfall for irrigation of our open spaces, smart flood solutions and designing trees and garden beds to remove pollution that would otherwise enter our waterways.
This Municipal Integrated Water Management Plan sets the strategic direction on water management across the municipality, using a place-based and catchment approach. It guides our effort, thinking and investment for reducing our reliance on potable water, improving the quality of stormwater entering our waterways and managing the impacts of flood.
Water use:
- Council – 50 per cent of all water use sourced from alternative water sources
- Municipal – 20 per cent of all water use sourced from alternative sources.
Water quality:
- 30 per cent reduction in Total Nitrogen contributed to the waterways from the municipality of Melbourne’s catchment (baseline year 2000).
Permeability:
- Minimum 20 per cent of each catchment’s surface area is considered permeable by 2030
City of Melbourne has made significant progress in integrated water cycle management practices:
- Implemented six large stormwater harvesting projects reducing stormwater pollutants and providing 23 per cent of council water use.
- Implemented an extensive drought-proofing program in open spaces.
- Incorporated water sensitive urban design into many of our streetscapes.
- Reduced water use in council-owned buildings, through efficient fittings and toilets, improving fire-sprinkler-testing regimes, cooling tower efficiencies and rainwater harvesting.
