Stormwater
Following years of drought, there is increased interest in harvesting stormwater.
If you are proposing to harvest stormwater straight out of a drain, you need to obtain permission from the owner of the drainage asset – often your local council.
If you want to take stormwater from a waterway (river or creek), you need to contact us to discuss your proposal.
Water in waterways is untreated and should not be considered safe for human consumption without proper treatment.
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WaterMatch - online trading
Watermatch is a free online service, designed to help people trade water.
Once you have registered, you can advertise to buy or sell water.
Depending on the water that you wish to trade, choose from the Groundwater, Surface Water (rivers and creeks) and Irrigation District forum.
Select a new topic to create your ad. Your ad can be to buy or sell water, and must describe the source of your water, quantity of water you want to buy or sell, how long you want to trade for and your contact details. If you are happy to put a buying or selling price, this can be included here too.
If you want to respond to an ad, you can use the email link or contact the advertiser direct.
It is an online trading forum, and can also be used by people who are not on the internet, with help from our staff.
Watermatch allows you to register your interest in either buying or selling water in southern Victoria.
- the Macalister, Werribee and Bacchus Marsh Irrigation District
- Groundwater systems in southern Victoria
- Rivers and creek systems in southern Victoria (other than those managed by Melbourne Water around the Port Phillip region).
Who can use it?
Anyone can use watermatch. You may be an existing licence holder who wants to sell water, or buy more water.
You may not currently have a licence, but you want to buy water in the region.
How does it work?
- click here to enter Watermatch
- register as a user (a very simple process)
- go to the system or district you are interested in and check current entries
- add in any entry for any water you want to sell or buy
What information should I include in my ad?
- If you are wanting to buy or sell
- your name
- phone number
- name of river, creek, groundwater management area or irrigation district
- how much water is to be traded
- If the trade is temporary or permanent
- term of the trade (Maximum term is 5 years)
Things you need to know
We are always looking for ways to improve our customer service. If you would like to provide feedack or suggested improvements please click here.
it's important to note that Southern Rural Water is not acting, and will not act, as a water broker.
We cannot advise you on price of water or match you individually with a buyer/seller.
Buyers and sellers still need to go through our normal application process.
Trading applications must be submitted to Southern Rural Water and approval granted before water is taken. A water transfer application form can be downloaded from our application page.
If you want to trade upstream, please speak with one of our Assessment Officers prior to submitting an application.
To check if a buyer or seller can trade with you, call us on 1300 139 510 and ask to speak to an Assessment Officer.
Not a water broker
It's important to note that Southern Rural Water is not acting, and will not act, as a water broker.
We cannot advise you on price of water or match you individually with a buyer/seller.
Buyers and sellers still need to go through our normal application process.