In a time of climate change and increasing urbanisation, it is vital to improve the way we manage water in our homes and urban communities.
Using drinking water for everything is not only wasteful but can be harmful to our environment.
We need to act now to secure a climate resilient future for ourselves and the next generations to come.
Collaborative approaches between the Victorian state government, local government, water corporations, Traditional Owners, catchment management authorities and the development industry are improving the way we manage water in urban areas.
Integrated Water Management places water security, liveability and the health of waterways and landscapes at the heart of servicing our urban communities.
IWM considers the whole water cycle including waterway management, wastewater treatment, flood management and water scarcity, and it enables the community to enjoy broader benefits such as urban greening, urban cooling, and more desirable recreational spaces.
IWM also positively contributes to the economy by creating new jobs and increasing investments in local projects.
In IWM all water sources are considered such as rainwater, stormwater and recycled water.
Unmanaged excess water from heavy rainfall also poses a challenge in urban areas. Our cities are getting denser with more and more hard surfaces, creating a physical barrier for the rainwater to infiltrate into the soil. Therefore, rainwater becomes stormwater.
Excess stormwater is drained into our waterways, creating harmful conditions for our rivers, creeks and bays.
By reducing the amount of excess stormwater and the amount of pollutants it contains, we can protect the health of Victoria’s waterways. This is also known as Water Sensitive Urban Design, which is part of the IWM approach.
In many of our metro and regional communities, nature strips and local wetlands treat stormwater.
Commercial buildings reuse water from their roofs, and sports clubs redirect stormwater to irrigate their ovals.
In some new urban developments, local treatment plants are used to produce recycled water for reuse in homes and neighbourhoods for non-drinking purposes.
If we work together and take full advantage of all the water solutions available to us, we will ensure that a valuable resource goes further, even in an unpredictable future.
The sooner we act, the more we will benefit.
To join the change, go to water.vic.gov.au or visit the Clearwater website at clearwatervic.com.au.
Page last updated: 22/11/23