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Metropolitan Water Plan
The 2006 Metropolitan Water Plan is the NSW Government’s plan to ensure a sustainable and secure water supply for greater Sydney. The NSW Government is currently updating the plan for the longer term, with the new plan to be released in 2010.
As part of the plan an Independent Review Panel of non government experts has been established to provide expert advice and monitor progress of the plan.
The four major parts of the plan - dams, recycling, desalination and water efficiency - together with the plan’s adaptive approach, prepare greater Sydney for drought, variable rainfall, potential impacts of climate change, and a growing population. The plan secures our water for life, which means water for people and the environment.
We’re making the most of one of the largest per capita storages in the world, for example by installing new pumps to reach deep water in major dams.
Large recycling schemes underway and planned will increase water recycling so that it provides 12% of greater Sydney’s water needs by 2015 – that’s 70 billion litres of water every year.
The desalination plant at Kurnell will provide up to 15% of our water needs. The plant will be ready by the summer of 2009-10 and will be 100% powered by renewable energy.
Our water needs will be reduced by 24% by 2015 through water efficiency initiatives across all sectors, including households, government, business and farms; as well as by building water efficient homes and by fixing and reducing leaks and through continued community education on wise water use.
Protecting the environment is also an extremely important aspect of the Metropolitan Water Plan. Healthy rivers and catchments are essential for recreational use, for business and for tourism. The focus is on environmental flows and the NSW Government has also established an Office of the Hawkesbury-Nepean to improve the health of the Hawkesbury-Nepean River System.
The plan also includes reforms to create a competitive and dynamic water industry, by encouraging the participation of the private sector in the water industry. Should Sydney experience another drought, the plan includes a number of drought response measures such as accessing groundwater reserves and implementing water restrictions, which are being reviewed as part of the updated plan.
The plan is based on the findings of independent experts. In addition to the commitment to undertake a four yearly major review of the plan, implementation is monitored every year through the preparation of annual progress reports, the latest of which is the 2008 Progress Report.
You can download a copy of the Metropolitan Water Plan (11Mb) in full. You can also view the individual chapters here.
The NSW Government is currently reviewing and updating the 2006 Metropolitan Water Plan, for the longer term. The updated Plan will be released in 2010.