Where We Fit in

Along with the other two metropolitan water retailers, South East Water and Yarra Valley Water, City West Water purchases bulk water and sewerage services from our wholesaler, Melbourne Water.

We also work with the other water retailers and Melbourne Water to develop water conservation plans and cross-industry contingency plans, which are put in place to deal with emergency situations and to manage our water resources.

Melbourne Water manages Melbourne’s water supply catchments and dams, removes and treats most of Melbourne’s sewage and manages rivers, creeks and major drainage systems in and around Melbourne. For more information on Melbourne Water visit their website.

City West Water services the local government areas of Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melbourne (north of the Yarra River), Moonee Valley, Wyndham, Yarra and parts of Melton and Hume.

View our service area map below or download a detailed PDF version for more information.

City West Water Service Area Map

• Where does our water come from?

  Rainwater is stored in the Thomson, Upper Yarra, O’Shannassy, Silvan, Sugarloaf, Maroondah and Greenvale reservoirs, which are managed by Melbourne Water. Water may be stored in these reservoirs for many years. A long period of storage helps to purify the water naturally.
   
  The water is mostly purified through natural processes and may require further treatment before it is suitable for drinking.

  The purified water leaves Melbourne Water's reservoirs and enters the pipes of the three retail water companies (City West Water, South East Water and Yarra Valley Water) so that it can be distributed to customers in the Melbourne metropolitan area. 
  
  City West Water maintains a network of water mains/pipes that deliver quality drinking water to our customers.

• How does City West Water collect and treat wastewater?

  City West Water collects all wastewater that enters the sewer within our service area and transports it to our Altona Treatment Plant or Melbourne Water's Western Treatment Plant for treatment.

  At the Western Treatment Plant, sewage is treated using a modern lagoon system and naturally occurring bacteria to break down the biodegradable material. 
   
  Treated wastewater that is not used as recycled water is discharged into Port Phillip Bay.

• What about recycled water?

  Some of the wastewater collected can be treated and reused. The use of recycled water will help to reduce the consumption of drinking water. Recycled water is produced after wastewater has gone through both the standard treatment process and a further treatment process to produce various classes of recycled water as defined by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA). City West Water plays a part in maintaining the quality of sewage reaching the treatment plants through our Cleaner Production program, which helps local industries to reduce salt and pollutants entering the sewage system.