Greenhouse Gas Reduction 

Western Water has successfully reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 43% since 2004/05. Our aspirational goal is to become carbon neutral by 2018.

Major greenhouse gas reduction initiatives include:

At Western Water’s Class A Recycled Water Plant at Melton,  emissions are offset by a 200kW Biogas Co-Generation facility.

The new facility captures biogas from the recycled water treatment process, converting the waste heat into energy. Greenhouse gas savings from the Co-Generation Plant are equal to taking 450 average passenger cars off the road by reducing emissions by 1800 tonnes.

The SolarBee is a solar powered aerator. Following an initial trial at the Lancefield Water Filtration Plant, the SolarBee aeration system is now being trialled at Woodend Recycled Water Plant. If successful, and introduced at all our sites, SolarBee aerators could help reduce our greenhouse gas emissions significantly.

Western Water’s Gisborne and Melton Depots now utilise biodiesel as an alternative fuel for fleet vehicles, trucks, pumps and other equipment.

Western Water's Sunbury office has converted to 100% Green Power, immediately becoming carbon neutral. 66 of our lowest energy consuming pump stations have also been converted to green power.

Western Water’s Greenhouse Reduction Strategy was developed in 2007 in alignment with the VicWater Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Framework and through our partnership with the Victorian Government’s Greenhouse Challenge Plus.

In 2010, the Climate Change Strategy was developed to build on the Greenhouse Reduction Strategy and encompasses our progress and plans in:

• Climate change mitigation - our contribution to reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change, and:
• Climate change adaptation - how we are preparing for the impacts on our business, and our customers, of changes in the climate that have already commenced.

Read our Climate Change Strategy:

•  Western Water Climate Change Strategy (1.3 Mb)

• Western Water Environmental Sustainability Report

For more information, contact our Renewable Resources Team on 1300 650 425 or email mail@westernwater.com.au.