Integrated Water Management

Our experience in IWM projects such as Aquarevo and Fishermans Bend have demonstrated that combining of all water cycle services holistically can provide effective and efficient solutions for our customers at an affordable price. 
In our unique context, Integrated Water Management is predominantly defined by integrated management of services in:

• Supply of drinking water 
• Disposal of treated wastewater 
• Management of stormwater and rainwater 
• Supply of fit-for-purpose water for non-potable use 

A holistic and collaborative approach to delivering these services will provide greater benefits our customers and the community than planning and providing these services in isolation as standalone services. 
Key benefits include: 

• Water security: Reducing our reliance on river water and diversifying our water supplies to provide a more resilient system that can adapt to climate change and growth. Melbourne receives 70GL/year less water from environment than its water demand, and this gap is growing each year by 10GL/year. IWM projects can support deferral of other water security options such as desalination and potable use of recycled water. This is the primary driver for IWM investment by South East Water.  
• Environmental protection: Protect waterways and the marine environment by recovering resources and enhancing environmental flows. 
• Healthy and safe communities: Find opportunities to return water to Traditional Owners, and opportunities to create a more liveable, green and cool urban environment. 
• Economic prosperity: Support and create jobs through fit for purpose water, improving the resilience and creating new economic opportunities for agriculture, businesses and industries in our service region.

IWM helps us deliver on our Corporate Strategy and supports many of its focus areas. 

The key focus areas that are supported by IWM are: 

Deliver for our customers 
IWM supports this focus area by providing 

• Improved water security through alternative water use  
• Cost effective wastewater services 
• Reduction of flooding impacts 
• Improving urban greening, cooling and amenity 
• Water for traditional owners 
• Support for agricultural and industrial users 

Protect our environment 
Key benefits of IWM to environment include  

• Enabling provision of water for waterways and environment 
• Provision of Water for public open spaces 
• Reduction of wastewater discharge to the environment 
• Reduction of stormwater discharge to the environment 
• Enhancing biodiversity outcomes 

Drive Innovation at scale 
IWM provides opportunities for South East Water to drive innovation that delivers greater outcomes for our customers and the community by 

• Leading innovation, research and development for new technologies and practices (such as Smart rainwater tanks) 
• Piloting new approaches, practices, and regulatory settings that are scalable and transferrable (such as Fishermans Bend) 

IWM approach is supported and encouraged by the State Government directives, as well as various water strategies at State, regional and national levels. Our need for IWM is shaped by obligations, policies and strategies set by the Victorian Government through 

• The Water Act  
• Water Corporations’ Statement of obligations 
• Water Minister’s letter of expectations 
• Water for Victoria plan and 
• Central and Gippslands Region sustainable water strategy 

South East Water has committed to progressing IWM in our service region and across Greater Melbourne through several industry partnership programs. These include 

• The Managing Directors’ Accord, and  
• The Melbourne Metropolitan IWM Forum Program 

 
Picture 1: Managing Directors Accord priorities chart 

Many industry strategies and plans collaboratively developed by South East Water and our partners further demonstrate our commitments to IWM. 

These include 

• Greater Melbourne Urban Water and System Strategy  
• South East Water’s Stormwater Plan 
• South East Water Rainwater Tank Strategy 
• South East Water’s Pricing/Business Plan commitments 
• Collaborative strategies and plans led by industry partners such as Healthy Waterways Strategy, Flood Management Strategy, Sewerage Strategy and council IWM plans 

Our customers have told us that they want us to invest in projects and initiatives that increase the security of our future water supplies and protect the environment and waterways. 

The customer consultation South East Water undertook as part of our Pricing Submission engagement n 2022 saw a strong support from the customers towards increasing our efforts to use alternative sources of water and customer’s willingness to pay for integrated water management initiatives.

Furthermore, customers also supported that South East Water should invest in research and development activities that support creating a healthier community and cleaner, greener environment. This provides us a mandate to increase our efforts in use of alternative water through IWM projects and initiatives  

South East Water’s Customer panel report recommended that South East Water should install a system that uses alternative water sources where practical. Further recommendations included 

• Increase update and installation of alternative water systems 
• Increase alternative water use by customers that already have access to alternative water 
• Connect the highest possible number of properties to alternative water