The Drainage System
The Drainage System
Melbourne Water is responsible for managing the regional drainage system for the Port Phillip and Westernport catchment - that’s more than 1200 kilometres of drains. We work closely with local councils, which have responsibility for local drains, road networks and street and property drainage that feed into the regional drains, rivers and creeks.
The drainage system carries rainwater from roofs, roads and buildings through gutters, drains and channels, and discharges it into rivers and creeks where it eventually flows to the bays.
Melbourne Water has a program in place to regularly monitor the condition of the drainage system to ensure it remains in good condition. We invest about $16 million a year on inspections, maintenance and upgrade projects, which are prioritised following surveys and inspections.
Urban developments
To minimise the impact of stormwater run-off into rivers and creeks, Melbourne Water has implemented new drainage standards. This involves older urban areas being 'retrofitted' with stormwater treatment measures where physically possible and cost effective.
Constructed wetland systems and water-sensitive urban designs are now being incorporated in new urban developments. Water-sensitive urban design integrates urban planning and development with the whole water cycle management. It provides alternatives to the traditional approach to stormwater, seeking to minimise the adverse effects of run-off. More information on water-sensitive urban design can be found on the Water Sensitive Urban Design website.
How the Stormwater System works
Downloads
- Guidelines for the Use of Music (PDF, 414kb)
- Port Phillip Bay Drainage Outlet Structures Survey (PDF, 1.6mb)
You will need Adobe Acrobat to access the above PDF documents. 