Water governance and the quality of water services in the city of Melbourne

“Integrated water resources management (IWRM) was reviewed in the city of Melbourne. Melbourne
performs well and shows a good level of commitment to sustainable solutions. The city scores highly in areas
such as water efficiency, wastewater efficiency, i.e., energy recovery, and climate change commitments
related to heat and water scarcity. Nearly 30% of houses in Melbourne have installed rainwater tanks and
plans to increase the use of stormwater have recently been published. Energy efficiency of buildings,
nutrient recovery (especially phosphate) from wastewater, as well as sewage sludge recycling are topics
for improvement. A transparent governance structure has been set up in a reaction to the ‘Millennium
Drought’ and success has come from many organizations working together to a common goal. This is the
secret of Melbourne’s success and can be used as an example for other cities in the world.”

(Citaat: Leeuwen, C.J. van – Water governance and the quality of water services in the city of Melbourne – Urban Water Journal 14(2017)3, p.247-254)