Where do we get our water from in Victoria?
A large proportion of our drinking water comes from protected or uninhabited mountain ash forests high in the Yarra Ranges east of Melbourne, where more than 157,000 hectares have been reserved for the harvesting of water.
What are protected catchments?
Special Areas protect water quality by providing buffer zones of pristine bushland around dams and immediate catchment areas. Human activities near the drinking water catchments can harm water quality.
Where does the water come from that fills the water catchments?
When rain falls in a catchment, it flows by gravity downhill either over the surface or under the ground towards the ocean. If the water flows on top of the ground it’s called surface water. If it soaks into the ground by infiltration it collects in aquifers and becomes groundwater.
How many water catchments are in Melbourne?
10 catchment
Below the map are the 46 basins that make up the 10 catchment regions in Victoria.
Where does my tap water come from Melbourne?
Reason 1: most of our water comes from protected catchments Sponge-like soils filter and hold rainwater, which is slowly released into the rivers that feed our water storage reservoirs. Most these catchments have limited public access, producing very clean water that needs little treatment.
How can we protect water catchments?
Weeds and pests – use organic herbicides and pesticides for control. Trees and shrubs – plant or retain native trees and shrubs to help prevent soil erosion. Riverbanks – protect plants on the banks of streams and rivers to provide a buffer against pollution.
How do river catchments work?
Within a catchment, water runs by gravity to the lowest point. The water is called surface runoff if it stays on the top of the land or groundwater flow if it soaks into the ground. When water reaches the lowest point in a catchment, it eventually flows into a creek, river, lake, lagoon, wetland or the ocean.
What are the five main land uses in drinking water catchments?
About 30% of catchment land is national park and bushland. Other significant land uses include horticulture such as vineyards and olive groves. Other significant land uses include horticulture (vineyards and olive groves), crops (canola and cereals), and mining and quarries.
How many water catchments are in Victoria?
Below the map are the 46 basins that make up the 10 catchment regions in Victoria. To help you find your local waterway, view the lists for the catchments within each basin.
How many catchments are there in Victoria?
Victoria is divided into 10 catchment and land protection regions.