About Water for Life

It�s only a few years since Sydney was in the grip of a severe drought and our water supply was stretched to the limit.

Dams have risen, but we can't be complacent. Drought could return, and Sydney's already variable rainfall may be even more so because of climate change.

Our growing population needs a reliable water supply, now and far into the future. We also need to make water available to keep our rivers alive and healthy.

Dams, recycling, desalination and water efficiency are the four major parts of the Metropolitan Water Plan, the NSW Government's long-term plan to secure Sydney's water future. These measures, combined with the adaptive management approach of the Plan, will provide water for people and water for the environment in the face of drought, population growth and the potential impacts of climate change.

What's happening

We are:

making the most of our large network of dams and preparing for future droughts
providing incentives, education and advice on how the community and business can use water wisely
building large new water recycling projects and a desalination plant so we rely less on rainfall
providing water to our rivers to keep them healthy.

Find out more

The Metropolitan Water Plan has all the projects and plans under way to achieve our targets with dams and rivers, recycling, desalination and water efficiency.
The 2008 Progress Report outlines what�s been achieved so far and what is still to come.
The Water for Life Education Program helps us all play our part in wise water use.
Read the latest water-saving news and sign up for our Water for Life e-newsletter.