Managing our water resources requires timely planning and investment. It aims to ensure the best mix of investment options are ready to be implemented at the right time to maintain liveability, economic prosperity and keep water bills affordable.

This 4–year $93.37 million initiative supports efforts to diversify our water supplies, while investing in water efficiency and behaviour change. This program also compliments the Water Planning for a Resilient and Secure Future initiative.

The Water Efficiency Program helps Victorians use water wisely to not only save water but reduce their bills too. To effectively diversify water sources, we need to take a whole of water cycle approach to water management – integrated water management (IWM) has been shown to be the most effective way to achieve this.

This initiative advances work started in previous EC funding tranches, while planning for and developing future water efficiency and treated stormwater, rainwater, and recycled water infrastructure policies and projects.

Expenditure to date

  • 2024–25 expenditure: $11.30 million

Annual progress summary

Highlights from the Water Efficiency Program in 2024–25 include:

  • Rebates were provided to 1,605 customers in vulnerable and hardship situations to empower them to reduce their home water usage and water bills, through the Community Rebate Program. The program provides water efficiency repairs and upgrades – saving households $72 per year on bills on average, with a total estimated water saving of 48 megalitres.
  • The total number of Victorian schools being assisted to reduce leaks and potable water waste through the Schools Water Efficiency Program reached 1,500 schools by 30 June 2025. An evaluation of the scheme was completed, which identified opportunities for increasing school registrations, improving the service provided and reducing costs.
  • DEECA continues to support the Australian Government’s Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme through a financial contribution of $62,000 and membership on the national WELS advisory committee. The WELS Scheme helps consumers save money on water and energy bills by providing information on product water efficiency, and by promoting and adopting water-saving technologies.
  • An economic analysis of showerhead replacement program options, including a market survey, was completed in May 2025.
  • DEECA continues to lead the Efficient Shower Impact Monitoring project. The project co-design report was finalised in May 2025 and all communication materials were finalised in June 2025. Installation of high-resolution meters is underway. Approximately 250 households are expected to have showerheads replaced by the end of 2025 and data analysis is planned to commence in March 2026.
  • DEECA continues to provide oversight and guidance for the Statewide Content (water conservation) Pilot project, led by Yarra Valley Water. The messaging framework and creative concepts have been developed, with some materials anticipated to be developed for use across the state this summer.

In 2024–25, the Integrated Water Management Policy and Program teams delivered:

  • facilitation support for the 15 IWM Forums across the state to enable the continued collaboration of water corporations, Traditional Owner Groups, local government, catchment management authorities and state government to enable an IWM approach to be adopted.
  • updated digital dashboard so Metro IWM Forum partners can continue to share and collaborate on IWM priorities.
  • monitoring, evaluation, reporting and improvement data collection to track progress of the Metropolitan IWM Forums.
  • investigative work in collaboration with IWM forum partners focussed on IWM opportunities to support the Government’s housing agenda priorities for Activity Centres and Priority Precincts.
  • resourcing initiatives to accelerate the delivery of IWM to becoming standard practice across regional Victoria through dedicated IWM Officer positions in all catchment management authorities (CMAs), and creation and design of the regional IWM Officer program, building from the pilot initiative.
  • resourcing initiatives to support Traditional Owner groups to actively participate in IWM initiatives.
  • establishment of the Northern Mallee IWM Forum and allocation of funds for the Lake Hawthorn pipeline feasibility study.
  • the development of the IWM Planning Guidelines to help embed IWM in urban land use planning frameworks.
  • the development of formal EPA guidance on managing risks associated with emerging contaminants in recycled water so that we can continue to manage any potential risks to human health and the environment.
  • progress on a feasibility study to strengthen compliance with stormwater flow reduction targets to protect urban waterway health.
  • projects to increase community knowledge of rainwater, recycled water and stormwater, such as improving rainwater tank maintenance guidance.
  • release of stormwater offsets guidance and a calculator tool, to help councils create robust offset schemes that can provide developers flexibility where stormwater quality obligations cannot be met on-site.
  • recommendations for improving compliance with on-ground stormwater management planning requirements.
  • ongoing capacity building and training activities to support planners and the development industry to comply with Victoria’s stormwater planning requirements.
  • progression of a review into stormwater licencing and supply arrangements.

Page last updated: 05/11/25