Our growing water use

Everything that makes Melbourne a great place to live relies on a healthy, dependable water supply. From our coffee and cafe scene, to our parks and gardens. 

Our city’s population grew by 140,000 in the past 12 months, and as our population continues to grow, our water supplies will need to as well so that there’s enough water for everyone.  

We can all play a role in helping save our precious water, even when it’s raining or our storages seem full. Because that can change quickly. Try these water saving tips at home: 

• Use the half-flush on your toilet and save around 3 litres every time you flush.

• Fix a dripping tap or running toilet. Left to leak, these can add up to huge amounts of water over a year. 

• Aim for a shorter shower. Can you be in and out in 4 minutes?

• Use the eco setting on your dishwasher and washing machine. 

• Water your garden early or late, when the ground will soak it up more. 

• Apply mulch to your garden. 

Last year, across Melbourne we each used an average of 163 litres per person, per day. Our target is 150 litres per person, per day. Let’s see if we can reach that.

Melbourne’s water suppliers are working together   

Along with Melbourne’s other water corporations we’re already making sure there’s enough water for the next 50 years. 

That includes greater use of recycled water, which we supply to more than 120,000 homes across Melbourne to flush toilets, water the garden and do a load of laundry. We’re also expanding supply to some large water using golf courses, nurseries and food growers in areas like Dingley and out past Pakenham.  These projects will deliver 5.8 billion litres of recycled water a year – leaving a huge amount of drinking water in our storages.  

Innovating and investing in smart technology helps us identify leaks in our network sooner, and digital water meters also allow us to alert you if we suspect you have a leak. In 2023-24 alone we helped save our customers 683 million litres of water. 

We all have a role to play 

Let’s help protect our water supplies. 

Related information

Learn more about the ways we're managing our water supplies for the future:

• Recycled water
• Desalinated water
• Digital meters
• Current water use rules
• Target 150