Access to Water
Some of the major waterways and water storages in the region have significant amounts of water extracted from them annually for domestic supply, irrigation, industrial use and environmental purposes. These streams are carefully regulated, including the development of Bulk Water Entitlements (BEs) that effectively licence these major extractions. Southern Rural Water (external link) is responsible for managing Bulk Water Entitlements for the Werribee and Maribyrnong Rivers.
The Werribee Irrigation District is one of Melbourne's largest vegetable growing regions and is located on the estuarine floodplain of the Werribee River. The Irrigation District receives its irrigation supply from a combination of three storages - Pykes Creek, Lake Merrimu and Melton Reservoir. These storages impund water from both the Werribee and Lerderderg River systems. Much of the District is open channel (including significant lengths of the Main Channel from the Werribee River), but some pipe-lining has been carried out as a result of urban development and the replacement of life-expired channels with more efficient supply mechanisms.
Source: Southern Rural Water website.
 Werribee Urban Water Authorities | Non-Metropolitan Urban Water Authorities supply water to towns and cities across regional Victoria, for urban, industrial and commercial use. Central Highlands Water (external link) Barwon Water (external link) Western Water (external link) City West Water (external link) Yarra Valley (external link) |
The Southern Rural Water website (external link) provides additional information on:
- Water Licensing (including surface water diversions, groundwater diversions)
- Irrigation (including Bacchus Marsh and Werribee Irrigation Districts)
© The State of Victoria, 1996 - 2008.
This document was last reviewed on 24/10/2008