Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the Water Outlook?

The Water Outlook is a new approach to water management in Melbourne. It aims to be adaptive and will provide the community with more water supply and usage information. This approach will ensure resilience is built into the water supply system, even in times of plenty.

Q. How does the Water Outlook work?

The Water Outlook includes an analysis of the performance of the water supply system and trends in how water is being used. It also includes consideration of environmental variables such as potential streamflows and how these can impact on the amount of water the supply system can sustainably deliver over the short and long term.

Q. When will the Outlook be released?

A Water Outlook will be published in early December each year, and for ease of communication system performance will be reported as either high (Melbourne's water supply is secure), medium (we need to take action to secure water supplies) or low (emergency circumstances have been experienced and severe water restrictions are needed to assist in maintaining supplies).

The status of the water supply system will be described in terms of water storage levels at 30 November each year. While the storage level may fall below this level during the following year as part of normal seasonal variation, this has been considered in determining the year's Water Outlook.

Q. What type of information will the Water Outlook include?

The Water Outlook will report on how much water is available to Melbourne in November each year. System performance will be reported on in terms of high, medium and low supply zones with the High Zone representing an estimated five years' of water availability.

This Water Outlook will include information on:

• Current storage levels and recent trends in water use;
• Current climate forecasts from the Bureau of Meteorology;
• Possible future storage levels under a range of rainfall scenarios;
• Water restrictions, if necessary, for the next year; and
• Actions that the water utilities are undertaking to ensure the long term supply security of Melbourne’s water supply system.

Q. When you say actions, what does that mean the water utilities will be doing?

To improve water supply over the next 12 months to deliver the five years' of water surety, the water utilities may build recycled and storm water harvesting infrastructure, enhance the existing water supply system and implement water efficiency programs that will collectively enhance the resilience of Melbourne's water supplies. These are all sample actions.

Q. How do you determine if Melbourne is in the High, Medium or Low Zone?

The Water Outlook compares current storage levels against a set of performance criteria. When the system is deemed to have a high degree of security of supply, storages are almost 60 per cent full and we are confident that we have enough water to meet the needs of Melbourne for the next five years by following the planned actions in our long term (50 year) strategy.

If we experience an unusually dry period and reduced stream flow – and our storages fall to between 32 - 54 per cent, we would enter the Medium Zone. Entering this zone indicates the need to undertake further planning and activities without necessarily restricting the use of water and its benefit to the community.

Finally, when we experience extreme circumstances and the security of our storages is compromised, we would enter the Low Zone which indicates the need for immediate action. The Low Zone would kick in when storages are 32 per cent or lower.

Q. What is the Water Supply & Demand Strategy?

The Water Supply & Demand Strategy (WSDS) is a 50 year strategy to balance the supply of water to meet Melbourne's residential, business and environmental needs. The WSDS is reviewed every five years and is a key input into the strategic planning for the Melbourne water businesses. The water businesses are currently working to deliver the next Melbourne Water Supply & Demand Strategy by March 2012.

Q. Why must the metropolitan water businesses develop a Water Supply & Demand Strategy and what does it entail?

The government owned Melbourne metropolitan water businesses are required to prepare a WSDS every five years under their Statement of Obligations. The Statement of Obligations requires that the WSDS must:

• Identify the best mix of demand measures and supply options for Melbourne's urban supply systems;
• Include water conservation targets; and
• Be developed in accordance with written guidelines issued by the Department of Sustainability and Environment.

Q. Will the public be consulted on this strategy?

Yes, a draft Water Supply & Demand Strategy (WSDS) will be completed in late 2011 and a public consultation period will be conducted. During this time you can review the draft WSDS and post comments at http://www.letstalkwatermelbourne.com.au

Q. What are permanent water saving rules and water restrictions?

Each metropolitan water retailer has a Permanent Water Saving Plan (PWSP) that contains permanent water saving measures (or rules) that apply to water use regardless of the status of the water supply system.

In addition, City West Water, South East Water and Yarra Valley Water each has a Drought Response Plan (DRP) that sets out additional actions, including water restrictions, which may be implemented during times of water scarcity or emergency.

Q. Why are they being reviewed?

City West Water, South East Water and Yarra Valley Water are required to review their Drought Response Plans (DRPs) - which include rules about water restrictions - after each period of drought.

It makes sense to review these rules following a period of drought to ensure they are relevant, continue to be accepted by the community and are in step with changes in water efficient behaviour and technology.

We want to reflect on experiences and listen to the community about their experiences to understand what worked and what didn't work in order to enhance our Permanent Water Saving Plans and DRPs in readiness for potential future droughts.

Q. What else will the review do?

The review is also intended to help achieve a higher degree of consistency across Victoria, while allowing a level of flexibility to accommodate differences between regions.

Q. Why is there a need for different levels of restrictions in different towns across the state?

There will always be a need for different levels of restrictions at various times for towns supplied by different water supply systems. There are a number of water supply systems across the state and they are very different in terms of the how much water they can supply and the way that they operate, and they are obviously exposed to different climatic conditions at different times.

Q. Is this review statewide?

Yes. While the Victorian community has largely accepted water restrictions, there has been confusion about what restrictions are in place in each area of the state. This often stems from media coverage or advertising which typically cross water business boundaries, particularly as the Melbourne media dominates the state of Victoria. While all water businesses have four stages of restrictions, in some situations water businesses have minor differences to accommodate local water supply issues.

To ensure consistency across the state, the Victorian Government has initiated a statewide review of all water restrictions and Permanent Water Saving Plans and this process is being coordinated by the Victorian Water Industry Association (VicWater).

This review has now been completed.

Q. Why are water restrictions and permanent water saving rules being reviewed together?

Permanent water saving rules and restrictions must be considered together because permanent rules and the associated level of water savings have implications for the nature of the rules and savings possible under the four stages of restrictions. To put it more simply, permanent water saving rules encourage the community to continue water efficient behaviours. Restrictions accelerate further water reduction through the implementation of additional water management practices.

Q. What are the metropolitan water businesses doing?

The government owned metropolitan Melbourne businesses are reviewing their Drought Response Plans (DRPs) and Permanent Water Saving Plans (PWSPs) within the same timeframe as the statewide review. This review has included community engagement and stakeholder consultation on the role and form of PWSPs and DRPs in the context of the role water has in making Melbourne a more liveable city. For example, water provides significant benefits to the community in terms of having healthy waterways, verdant parks, green open space, and playable sportsgrounds etc. which, in turn, all help cool Melbourne.

This should result in new PWSPs and DRPs that have community support, and are robust and consistent across the state.

Q. How can the community provide feedback on the Permanent Water Saving Plans and restrictions?

The Melbourne water businesses are engaging with the community through an online engagement forum via http://www.letstalkwatermelbourne.com.au

We also initially obtained community and stakeholder feedback via a number of deliberative forums held across each of City West Water's, South East Water's and Yarra Valley Water's service areas and conducted an online survey across metropolitan Melbourne. All of this data was collated and input into our review process.

Each of Melbourne's water retailers — City West Water, South East Water and Yarra Valley Water — subsequently proposed variations to their  Permanent Water Saving and Drought Response Plans.  The plans were available and open for public consultation from 17 October - 14 November 2011.  The review has now been completed and these varied plans are in effect.

Q. How long will permanent water saving rules stay in place?

Permanent water rules apply at all times except when other stages of water restrictions are in place.

Q. How are the permanent water saving rules and water restrictions being developed?

After years of drought and long running restrictions, the water industry has learned a lot about what works and what doesn't work in terms of securing water savings. We've also engaged the community to find out what has and hasn't worked for them and what is practical for customers. This input fed into the VicWater review process and using all this information, the metropolitan water retailers have now developed proposed variations to their Permanent Water Saving and Drought Response Plans.  It is these variations that we are now asking for public comment on.

Q. Are the regional areas / water businesses included in this review?

Yes, the regional water businesses are participating in the statewide review being conducted by VicWater, the peak industry association for water businesses in Victoria (http://vicwater.org.au). Regional water businesses will be consulting with their communities to feed into the process.

Q. What will actually be covered by the new Permanent Water Saving and Drought Response Plans?

The new plans will dictate what, if any, permanent water rules will be used on an ongoing basis and what, if any, water restrictions will be used during times of drought - including a schedule defining prohibitions in each of the four stages of restriction.

Q. Do I get to say what I want in each stage of restriction?

We initially asked the community for their input on what worked and what didn't work during water restrictions, and what caused concern and/or had an economic impact. We used these responses to help shape what water restrictions look like.

Q. What research will you use to support the review and policy development?

In Melbourne we are engaging with the community through an online engagement forum moderated by Bang the Table which can be reached via http://www.letstalkwatermelbourne.com.au. On this site we asked the community questions and conducted quick polls on key topics. We also obtained community and stakeholder feedback via a number of deliberative forumsthat were held across City West Water's, South East Water's and Yarra Valley Water's service areas and conducted surveys across metropolitan Melbourne. All of this data was collated and input into our review process.

Q. What is the timeframe for the review and subsequent development of the policy?

VicWater initiated the statewide review in May 2011. Community and stakeholder engagement for metropolitan Melbourne took place between June-August, customer research was conducted between July-August, this feedback was integrated in August, a proposed approach agreed upon in September and the statutory 28-day public consultation period took place from
17 October - 14 November 2011.  This review has now been completed and the metropolitan water utilities have adopted varied Drought and Permanent Water Saving Plans.  These plans came into effect on 1 December 2011.

Q. How much is this project costing the taxpayer?

The water businesses have statutory obligations to undertake regular reviews of both their Water Supply & Demand Strategy and drought response guidelines for forward planning purposes.

The costs associated with these reviews are included in each businesses ongoing operational budget and there is no additional cost to the community.

Q. Will I hear about how my feedback is incorporated or used?

Yes. We will be providing updates on how and where your feedback is being incorporated via the online forum and direct correspondence with forum participants. You can also now view the outcomes of the review on this site.

Q. When does the 28-day public consultation period on the proposed plans start?

In Melbourne the public consultation period ran from 17 October - 14 November 2011. Comments could be lodged online or in writing until Monday, 14 November.

Q. How do I provide comment to the proposed plans?

Each water utility is responsible for collecting their customers' feedback for consideration and feeding it back into the statewide review process.

Customers of the three metropolitan water retailers - City West Water, South East Water and Yarra Valley Water - can submit feedback on this site via the Restrictions and Permanent Water Savings’forum for either or both plans.  Click on either Drought Plan or Permanent Rules to provide feedback.

You may upload a document if you want to provide a formal response on personal, company or an organisation’s letterhead.

You can also post feedback on behalf of any of the metropolitan retailers to:

Attention: Drought Response and Permanent Water Saving Plans Proposal Feedback
Drought Response Committee Chairman
c/o of City West Water
Locked Bag 350, Sunshine VIC 3020

Q. Where can I view or get a copy of the proposed plans?

Melburnians can view the proposed Drought Response and Permanent Water Saving Plans at www.letstalkwatermelbourne.com.au

A plan for each water retailer is available. Please note that all plans are the same except for the company reference. You can also view or print out a copy of your metropolitan retailer's plans by visiting:

City West Water                       www.citywestwater.com.au

South East Water                     www.southeastwater.com.au

Yarra Valley Water                  www.yvw.com.au

Q. What if I don't have access to a computer or can't go online?

If you do not have access to a computer or the Internet, contact your local water utility at one of the numbers below and you will be mailed a hard copy.

City West Water                   131 691

South East Water                131 867

Yarra Valley Water              131 721

You can post feedback on behalf of any of the metropolitan retailers to:

Attention: Drought Response and Permanent Water Saving Plans Proposal Feedback
Drought Response Committee Chairman
c/o of City West Water
Locked Bag 350, Sunshine VIC 3020

Q. When will these proposed changes come into effect?

Following the consultation period, and after the submissions have been reviewed, the water utilities will submit their proposed plans to the Minister for Water for approval. Both the Permanent Water Saving (permanent water rules) and Drought Response (water restrictions) Plans come into effect once these plans are signed by the Water Minister and subsequently adopted by the board of each water utility. This occured on 1 December 2011.

Q. Can I get a copy of the proposed plans direct from my water retailer?

These proposed plans were adopted as of 1 December 2011.  They are available on this site or call or visit your water retailer's website.

City West Water               131 691             www.citywestwater.com.au

South East Water             131 867             www.southeastwater.com.au

Yarra Valley Water          131 721             www.yvw.com.au/

Q. What is the timing for this consultation period / process?

Comments can be lodged from Monday, 17 October through Monday, 14 November. Community feedback will then be considered before the revised plans are submitted to the Minister for Water for final approval.

Timing
17 October 2011             Proposals available for public feedback.
14 November 2011         Public comments close.
Late November                Utilities submit proposed plans to the Minister for Water.
1 December 2011           Utilities adopt varied plans