Victorian Desalination Plant order

The Victorian Desalination Plant is an essential part of the state’s water supply system.

The plant has played a critical role in maintaining water storages during dry periods and in response to population growth, with large-scale deliveries in 8 of the past 10 years.

After providing 50 billion litres to the system last year, the Government has requested that the desalination plant deliver 150 billion litres of drinking water in 2026.

This year’s order is the equivalent of one-third of Melbourne’s current annual demand.

The desalination plant provides a huge boost to Melbourne’s storages and frees up supply to support Geelong and other regional towns in the Gippsland region.

The major upgrade to the Melbourne to Geelong Pipeline, completed in 2025, allows for up to 22 billion litres of water to be transferred to the Geelong region each year.

Running at its peak in February, the pipeline was helping to meet about 50 per cent of the Geelong region’s demand.

The pipeline is alleviating pressure on Geelong’s water storages, which have continued to decline since finishing 2025 at a 16-year low for that time of the year.

Regular desalinated water orders and an increase in the use of non-rainfall dependent sources, such as recycled water and stormwater, are central to a sustainable water network.

Water is a precious resource, and we all have a role to play in conserving it and making every drop count.

We can all save water through simple everyday actions, like keeping showers to four minutes, running full loads in the washing machine or dishwasher, and choosing water-wise plants.

For more information on the Government's announcement: Desalinated Water Flowing To Melbourne And Geelong | Premier

Desalinated water entering the supply system at Cardinia Reservoir, in Melbourne's south-east.