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Drought is an unavoidable reality in Melbourne. Throughout history, Australians have tried hauling in water, building reservoir after reservoir, and even set aside days to pray for rain. With Melbourne currently in its 10th year of drought, they have recently taken to alternative water sources. By integrating water cycle management into urban planning and design, Melbourne Water, owned by the Victorian Government, began constructing man-made wetlands to act as a natural filter by removing nitrogen and other pollutants from storm water. Melbourne, which stands at the mouth of the Yarra River on Port Phillips Bay, now expects to reduce the amount of nitrogen entering Port Phillip Bay by 100 tons a year, starting this year.
Melbourne Water, whose goal is to ensure a 'sustainable water future,' is responsible for looking after Melbourne's water supply catchments, treat and supply its drinking water, remove and treat most of Melbourne's sewage, provide recycled water for non-drinking purposes, and manage rivers and creeks and major drainage systems throughout the Port Phillip and Westernport region.
Melbourne Water currently manages 117 wetlands, and is currently investigating other potential sites for wetlands. They invest approximately $6 million a year in building wetlands. To construct a wetland, Melbourne Water will take land that is set aside for flood protection, dig a shallow depression into the floodplain, then build structures to allow water to flow in and out of the wetland and finally plant suitable vegetation. The wetlands are designed to filter storm water, and the plants remove nitrogen and other pollutants. In addition, the wetlands slow the flow of water, reduce the amount of sediments being carried, and enable biological processes, sunlight, and time to purify the water.
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