About us
Introduction
Water is a finite and precious natural resource. It underpins the prosperity of our communities and the health of our environment. Together as a community, our challenge is how we can use our water in smarter ways. Achieving sustainable management of Victoria’s water resources is essential for current and future generations. This includes balancing the ever-increasing demand to meet the needs of industry, individuals and the environment.
Use of our precious water resources is influenced by many factors including - population growth, housing types, population densities, water consumption habits, droughts and weather patterns. These factors place pressures on our precious water resources in terms of residential, commercial, industrial and institutional water uses, and highlight the need for Victoria to become a water smart State.
The Smart Water Fund is a key part of the Victorian water industry’s response to the ongoing challenges posed by climate change and water scarcity. The Fund is focused on finding and supporting innovative new solutions to current and future water related challenges.
About the Smart Water Fund
The Smart Water Fund is a joint initiative of Melbourne’s water businesses – City West Water, South East Water, Yarra Valley Water and Melbourne Water – together with the Victorian Government. Established in 2002, the Smart Water Fund invests in innovative water conservation, water recycling and biosolids management solutions throughout metropolitan and regional urban Victoria. To view a copy of the Joint Venture Agreement click here.
Victoria is experiencing an ongoing drought due to the effects of climate change and must develop new ways of managing urban supplies. The Smart Water Fund supports innovation to promote transformational change in the way we manage, consume and reuse Victoria’s water resources.
The Fund has two key aims:
- To invest in innovative research and on-the-ground projects to provide new insights to urban water use and management
- To share the knowledge gained for the benefit of the wider community
The Smart Water Fund has conducted six funding rounds to date. In this time approximately 170 projects have received total funding of $28 million.
Smart Water Fund grants are available to industry and business, research organisations, community groups, local government and individuals.
The Smart Water Fund has invested in innovative projects covering numerous sectors of the community and business. To learn more about these projects click here to visit the Project Knowledge Bank.
Future funding
The Smart Water Fund will soon release Round 7 funding. Further information regarding Round 7 will be announced in late September 2009.
To learn more about funding requirements including eligibility criteria and to view a sample funding agreement, click here to view the Funding Information page.