Water Grid

The Queensland Government’s $6.9 billion South East Queensland (SEQ) Water Grid is the most ambitious water supply project and largest urban drought response in Australia.

It was built as a strategic response to the worst drought in modern history. Providing unprecedented water security for SEQ, the grid integrates existing water sources with new climate-resilient water supplies, such as desalination and purified recycled water.

As an integrated treated water supply network, the SEQ Water Grid connects water supplies, storages and treatment plants across SEQ, from Noosa to Coolangatta and out to the Lockyer Valley. It comprises a network of treatment facilities and two-way pipes that move treated drinking water from new and existing sources across the region.

As a result of the establishment of the SEQ Water Grid, the SEQ region leads Australia in water security.

Learn more about the SEQ Water Grid.

The Queensland Water Commission's South East Queensland Water Strategy sets out level of service objectives for supplies from the Water Grid. These objectives provide a basis for establishing a secure water supply through:

• timely implementation of supply and demand initiatives to meet future water needs as a result of population growth
• a pre-determined Drought Response Plan.

The SEQ System Operating Plan for the water grid:

• facilitates water sharing across the region
• provides operating principles that link major water storages and ensure that water can be moved to where it is needed. Operating principles consider factors such as:
  • varying capacity and performance of water storages
  • technical issues relating to operating water storages, reservoirs and pipelines
  • water quality and environmental considerations
• advises the Water Grid Manager on how best to operate the water grid in accordance with the System Operating Plan.