Alternative water sources

Additional and alternative water sources

Many of our towns and cities rely on a single source of water for their water supply. They are vulnerable when drought or other events threaten their water source.

Our population is growing, and our water demands are changing. We are also experiencing less reliable rainfall and more extreme weather including droughts, bushfires and floods. These affect the reliability and quality of our water sources.

When coupled with being efficient in how we use water, diversifying our supply by tapping into alternative water sources means we won’t have to rely on a single source of water and our water supplies will be more resilient to drought and other risks.

Support for alternative water sources

The NSW Government wants to ensure communities in regional and metropolitan NSW have the water they need to thrive, grow and enjoy — now and for future generations. We support all water sources being considered in developing resilient and secure water supply mixes for towns and cities.

We need to balance the sources in our supply mix so that in any climate condition, natural disaster or population situation, the community won’t be water stressed. Safe supply options may include surface water, groundwater, recycling and desalination. Find out more about the different types of water sources available

In the NSW Water Strategy, we have committed to progressing regulatory reform, guidelines and community engagement over the next 5 years to make the development and use of diverse water supply options easier.