Saving water
Let's reach our target of 150 litres of water per person, per day.
Everything we all love about Melbourne, from the lush Royal Botanical Gardens to our world-famous coffee, relies on a healthy, dependable water supply. But as our population grows and our environment changes, water is becoming increasingly scarce.
Our water in numbers
42.4
Rainfall last month (mm)
41.98% less than November 2022
95.02%
Melbourne's water storage levels
2.97% less than November 2022
Melbourne, let's make every drop count
Ways you can make every drop count
Fix a dripping tap
It might be as straightforward as replacing the washer or turning your taps off tightly.
Water your garden early (or late)
Giving plants a drink during cooler hours of the day reduces evaporation, so more water reaches the roots. If it’s forecast to rain, why water at all?
Use half flush (when you can)
Most Melbourne homes now have a dual flush toilet. Do you? Switching is a great way to save.
Turn off the tap when you brush your teeth
That’s two minutes of drinking water saved from the drain every time you brush.
Use the eco settings on your appliances
Save water just by choosing a different cycle on your washing machine or dishwasher. Look out for the ‘eco’ cycle.
Shave a minute off your shower time
In 2017-18, the average shower time was seven minutes. The impact would be massive if we all turned off the taps just one minute earlier.
Current water use rules
These were introduced in 2011 and are always in place to help manage our water efficiency. These rules let you know how you can use water around your home, garden and business.
South East Water Education
Our education site is jam-packed with exciting resources for parents, teachers and students to learn about, understand and appreciate our valuable natural resource - water.