Climate change

We recognise climate change is a significant challenge for Westernport Water, the environment and our community.

As a water business our performance is directly linked to the climate. We rely on rainfall in our catchments to fill our dams. When it’s hot our customers typically consume more water and this places additional strain on treatment plants, pump stations and pipes. During intense rainfall events stormwater gets into our sewer network and can sometimes result in overflows to drains, rivers and streams.

The climate is changing more rapidly than it has in the past and there is scientific consensus that the emission of greenhouse gases from human activity is driving this change.

Mitigation and Adaptation

Action on climate change must take two forms – Mitigation and Adaptation. Mitigation focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere to prevent rises on global temperatures, while adaptation involves preparing for the impacts of climate change on our assets, people, planning and day to day operations.

Emission Reduction

Following the Water for Victoria plan and Statement of Obligations (Emission Reduction), all 19 water corporations in Victoria are committed to reduce collective emissions by 42% from the estimated total sector baseline period of 2011 to 2016, by 1 July 2025.