There's a lot to consider when we consider our region's future water needs

How much water will we need to meet the needs of our growing community?

With less rain, a hotter climate, and lower long-term average inflows, where will that water come from and how can we best manage it?

How can we think and act differently to ensure our water services and infrastructure are resilient and ready for the future?

What are the trade-offs we are willing to accept to balance water security, water bills, environmental impacts, and community values?

These and other considerations will inform the development of our latest Urban Water Strategy, the key planning tool for the delivery of a safe and sustainable water supply for our region for the next 50 years.

Our Urban Water Strategy 2027 will detail our long-term water outlook and guide how we will manage growing demand for drinking water in the 49 towns our customers call home. It will address key challenges and set out the best mix of actions now and in the future.

As a customer-funded business, and because you can't live without water, the strategy also needs to reflect what you consider important.

How do you use water and what do you value? What are the future risks and opportunities from your perspective? Are you prepared to pay for different service levels based on different scenarios? What makes sense to you... and what doesn't?

Tell us what you think before Friday 27 March.

Why we have an Urban Water Strategy

Our Urban Water Strategy outlines how we will manage demand for drinking water across our region over the next 50 years. It's a key planning tool, updated every five years, to help us deliver a safe and sustainable water supply for our cities and towns.

All Victorian water corporations have an Urban Water Strategy to:

  • Provide a 50-year outlook.

  • Consider the whole water cycle.

  • Support the development of resilient and liveable communities.

  • Balance social, environmental, and economic costs and benefits.

  • Consider the consequences of population change, climate variability, and other risks.

The strategy includes our Drought Preparedness Plan, which is updated at the same time. This plan ensures we are prepared to respond to water shortages from extreme weather events in the short-term.

Who we're engaging with and why

We conduct modelling based on different scenarios, collect the best available data, and consult widely to develop our Urban Water Strategy.

Customer and stakeholder engagement is central to the development of the strategy, with requirements and expectations set by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).

The engagement process allows us to draw on diverse insights, experiences, and ideas to co-design a water future that supports our region's continued liveability and prosperity.

Our Urban Water Strategy will ensure we are prepared and ready to address the pressure population growth, climate change, and extreme events like bushfires, floods, and droughts are expected to place on water resources and have a plan in place to secure our water future.

Who we're engaging with

  • Customers

  • Communities

  • Local councils

  • Traditional Owners

  • Government and its agencies

  • Other subject matter experts

The questions we're asking

What do you consider appropriate levels of service and what are you willing to pay?

What potential action do we need to take to balance supply and demand?

What potential initiatives can we introduce to address imbalances?

How do you use water and what value do you place on it?

What are the cost-benefits and trade-offs of potential courses of action?

How do we best prepare for and respond to drought?

We want to hear what you think

Your feedback could directly influence how often you are likely to experience water restrictions and the plans we put in place to secure our water supply for the next 50 years.

Customer and community feedback will be incorporated into the draft Urban Water Strategy and Drought Preparedness Plan, which stakeholders will have the opportunity to comment on. Our Board will then review and approve the final strategy before it is sent to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) for approval)

  • Complete the online survey

    Have your say via our online Urban Water Strategy survey (five to seven minutes).

    Click here for the survey 

  • ​Speak with us one-on-one

    Call 1300 363 200 or visit our pop-up kiosk at 37-45 Bridge Street between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday.