The need to save water has never been greater. In recent years, we experienced the worst period of drought and lowest stream flows in our State’s history.

A litre of water saved is equivalent to a litre of water added to the system by additional supply – but a litre saved is cheaper, quicker to find and involves lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Victorians are meeting the challenge. Victorian households, industry and farmers are now saving more water than ever before.

• Since the launch of the Water Smart Gardens and Homes Rebate Scheme in 2003, over 255,000 rebates have been claimed. These products have helped Victorians households save more than 2.56 billion litres of water each year and save money on their water bills.

• Victoria’s water corporations are working with around 1750 non-residential water customers to develop water management action plans (waterMAPs). WaterMAP customers across the State have saved approximately 15 billion litres of water since the program's inception in September 2007.
  

• Victoria’s farmers are among the most water efficient in the world. While irrigators currently use 77 per cent of the state’s water, the $2 billion Northern Victorian Irrigation Renewal Project will save the equivalent of half the water used by Victorian households each year.

With the ongoing challenges of drought and climate change, saving water must be a lifelong habit for every Victorian.