Clean Water and Sanitation

Water consumption is monitored in each of our buildings and across our campuses. Consumption levels for the whole University are reported quarterly and annually. The Annual Water Consumption graph highlights that municipal water consumption represents the major water source. Other water sources include surface water (such as water from the moat) and wastewater from partner organisations. Read more

La Trobe University uses local council wastewater treatment processes and facilities to treat wastewater across all its campuses. Providers for wastewater treatment for La Trobe University include Yarra Valley Water, Lower Murray Water, Coliban Water, Goulburn Water.

Environmental Management & Pollution Prevention
La Trobe’s ISO 14001-certified Environmental Management System (EMS) ensures proper servicing of grease and pollutant traps, and establishes procedures for dealing with environmental incidents (like spills or flooding) to safeguard water quality.

Stormwater Treatment & Reuse (Melbourne Campus)
The university maintains a series of water bodies known as the Nangak Tamboree biodiverse corridor. These water bodies naturally clean stormwater before it enters Darebin Creek. The captured water is then reused onsite for purposes such as irrigation, toilet flushing, and mechanical services.

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• La Trobe operates under an ISO 14001-certified Environmental Management System, which sets procedures to:
  • Prevent pollution of soil and water
  • Manage environmental risks and incidents
  • Ensure compliance with Victorian EPA requirements and trade-waste agreements.

• At food outlets, laboratories, and facilities, the university maintains grease and pollutant traps to stop oils, fats, and chemicals from entering the sewer or stormwater system.
• These are serviced regularly as part of campus infrastructure maintenance.

• At the Bundoora campus, stormwater is channelled into wetlands and water bodies (the Nangak Tamboree corridor) where pollutants naturally settle and are filtered before entering Darebin Creek.
• This provides a buffer against accidental discharges and ensures cleaner water leaves the campus.

• The university’s Health and Safety procedures (e.g., Chemical Safety Procedure) include clear steps for:
  • Safe storage, handling, and disposal of chemicals
  • Immediate containment and clean-up of spills
  • Notification to relevant authorities (e.g., EPA, Yarra Valley Water) if there’s a risk to the environment.
• These procedures reduce the risk of contaminated water leaving the campus in an accident.

• La Trobe maintains trade-waste agreements with water authorities (e.g., Yarra Valley Water at Bundoora, Coliban Water at Bendigo).
• These agreements strictly control the physical and chemical properties of any wastewater discharged into sewer systems.
• If an incident occurs, the university must contain and treat polluted water onsite before discharge, or notify the water authority.

La Trobe has water fountains installed across our campuses to allow the community to refill and stay hydrated for free, so bring a reusable bottle and save some money and the environment by refilling.

The University's Design Standards have been revised and implemented to ensure minimum performance requirements are met when designing new space and implementing water sensitive urban design initiatives. Water harvesting from buildings and storage within tanks is encouraged. Rain water is to be reused where possible, with appropriate systems, for toilet flushing, landscaping and other uses.

• All new buildings and major refurbishments must comply with La Trobe’s Sustainable Building Design Standards.
• These standards align with Green Star and NABERS ratings (national sustainability benchmarks for buildings).
• They include requirements for:
  • Water-efficient fixtures (low-flow taps, showers, dual-flush toilets)
  • Water-efficient appliances in labs, kitchens, and residences
  • Smart irrigation systems using weather and soil data
  • Integration of rainwater harvesting and recycled water systems

The performancee requirements included in University's Design Standards include to ‘Select species appropriate to the local micro climate(s) created by the building (i.e. shade, dry  tops of mounds, wet boggy areas, water gardens).’ And to ‘Select drought resistant species to minimise watering requirements’.

La Trobe University's policy commitment to maximising water reuse is detailed within our Environmental Sustainability Policy, Water Self-Sufficiency Strategy, and Design Standards

• This policy (Part D – Water Management) requires the university to:
  • Minimise potable water consumption
  • Maximise use of alternative water sources, including recycled water and treated stormwater
  • Ensure compliance with all relevant water legislation and sustainability standards.

• La Trobe has a formal program aimed at achieving 50% water self-sufficiency.
• Key reuse initiatives include:
  • Stormwater harvesting and treatment at the Nangak Tamboree waterway
  • Reuse of treated water for toilet flushing, irrigation, and mechanical services (e.g., cooling towers)
  • Connection of some regional campuses (e.g., Albury–Wodonga) to reclaimed water networks for irrigation.

• New buildings and refurbishments must incorporate rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse, and recycled water systems where feasible.
• Fixtures and irrigation are designed to reduce demand on potable water and increase reliance on reused sources.

La Trobe measures the amount of water re-used across the University and reports this amount in its annual report (See page 41 for recycled water use.)

The Mann Lecture is a free annual public lecture held at our Albury-Wodonga Campus (also accessible online).

Join La Trobe's Professor Nick Bond for an exciting conversation about the opportunities for disruption and growth through tech and AI in farming and water management.

Panelists:

• Professor Nick Bond (Facilitator) - Director Centre for Freshwater Ecosystems, La Trobe University
• Stuart Upton - General Manger, Australia, AgriProve
• Lisa Ryan - General Manager, Digital and Business Innovation, North East Water

Our work to reduce water consumption helps our students living on residence embed quality water-saving practices Moving Towards Water Self-Sufficiency

1. Water-Efficient Fixtures and Infrastructure

• All new buildings and major refurbishments incorporate low-flow taps, dual-flush toilets, and water-efficient appliances.
• Older facilities are gradually retrofitted to meet these efficiency standards.

2. Stormwater Harvesting & Reuse

• The Nangak Tamboree corridor at the Melbourne (Bundoora) campus captures and treats stormwater for irrigation, toilet flushing, and cooling systems, reducing potable water use.
• Similar initiatives exist at regional campuses where reclaimed water is available.

3. Smart Irrigation Systems

• Automated irrigation adjusts water use based on soil moisture and weather conditions, ensuring only necessary watering of lawns and gardens.

4. Landscaping Practices

• La Trobe uses drought-tolerant and native plants, which require minimal supplemental watering.
• Vegetated wetlands and biofiltration systems also reduce stormwater runoff and naturally filter water.

5. Education & Awareness

• Signage and campus sustainability programs educate staff, students, and visitors on conscious water use.
• Water-conscious practices are integrated into broader sustainability campaigns on campus.

6. Monitoring & Reporting

• The university tracks water consumption and publishes sustainability reports, ensuring transparency and continuous improvement in water management.

The Murray Darling Water and Environmental Research Program (MD–WERP) is a comprehensive, multi-party collaboration involving more than 17 government and non-government institutions, co-developed by researchers, water policy and water managers, along with First Nations representatives. The program was made possible by a $20 million commitment by the Australian Government to improve Basin Plan outcomes (the Murray Darling basin is Australia's largest and most complex river system) through targeted research, and to deliver research on environmental outcomes, and social, economic and cultural outcomes. La Trobe University, who partnered with Griffith University, the University of Canberra, Macquarie University and Sarah Martin Consultant Archaeologist, have delivered research on environmental outcomes, and social, economic and cultural outcomes.

Murray–Darling Water and Environment Research Program | Murray–Darling Basin Authority

In 2024, La Trobe actively supported water conservation off campus and conscious water usage in the community through:

Designing a Smart Irrigation System

A smart irrigation system powered by artificial intelligence can tell sugarcane farmers when and where to water their crops in an advance that could one day revolutionise agriculture – and help preserve the health of the Great Barrier Reef. Manual irrigation systems are labour-intensive for farmers to operate, and misjudging the quantity or timing of irrigation can waste water or cause fertiliser run-off. In partnership with Queensland ag-tech company Aglantis, a team led by La Trobe’s Prof. Wei Xiang have developed a smart irrigation system which uses AI to monitor factors such as temperature, humidity and seasonal weather patterns and optimises the operation of water pumps accordingly.

Aglantis successfully installed the purpose-built system on an 80-hectare sugarcane farm near Townsville. Saving on cost, time and resources, smart irrigation ‘takes the guesswork out of farming’ according to Aglantis’ managing director, Luke Malan. Aglantis formally launched their smart irrigation system in December 2024; the first time such a system has been commercialised in Australia.

Irrigation Industry Water Efficiency Programs

The Lower Murray Water 2024 Growers Conference was held at the Brian Grogan Lecture Theatre at La Trobe University’s Mildura Campus on Wednesday 1 May 2024. Attendees had the chance to connect with industry leaders, policy shapers, and fellow irrigators including presentations on Water Efficiency Programs (WEP)

AquaWatch system for monitoring water quality CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, launched AquaWatch Australia in 2023 with foundational partner SmartSat CRC and a network of collaborators, including La Trobe University, to develop a national system for monitoring water quality, including early warning forecasts. Since launching, AquaWatch has established multiple test sites with the ability to monitor bays, coastal wetlands, rivers, dams, lakes, aquaculture farming and coral reefs, including the Southern Great Barrier Reef.  In 2024, it was announced that Australia’s AquaWatch system will be established in the UK, following bilateral support and co-funding from the two countries’ space agencies.