Turning seawater into drinking water means we have a guaranteed water supply that is independent of rainfall. Without desalination, Victoria’s water supply is almost entirely dependent on rainfall – rain which has fallen at record low levels in recent years.

Melbourne’s residents, visitors and industry used about 360 billion litres in 2009. And while we’re saving water by using less of it, low rainfall in recent years meant our water storages were not being topped up.

In 2006, Melbourne had its lowest inflows in 100 years with just 163 billion litres going into storages, and storage levels fell to just 25.6 per cent.

The average inflow for Melbourne from 2000 to 2009 was 391 billion litres each year.

The Victorian Desalination Project will provide up to 150 billion litres a year – almost half that amount again.

Dams and rainfall are traditional methods of supplying water, but we can no longer rely on rain.

The Victorian Government is acting to secure our water supplies with 21st century solutions.

Catchment inflows into Melbourne storages