Water
Water is fundamental to life, health, and sustainable development and the education sector has a vital responsibility to sustainable water management as part of its overall efforts to tackle global challenges.
The Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings assess universities’ contributions toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with SDG 6 focusing on Clean Water and Sanitation, recognising that access to safe and reliable water, along with effective sanitation, underpins thriving societies.
Clean drinking water and good hygiene are essential for communities, supporting not only individual wellbeing but also agriculture, aquaculture, and broader economic development.
In Australia, robust local and national infrastructure provides most communities with effective systems for water supply and sanitation, but some regional and remote communities still face challenges with water security. In Vietnam and other countries, however, access can be variable and often challenging, underscoring the importance of collaboration and lasting solutions.
Each year, millions of people, many of them children, lose their lives to preventable diseases caused by inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene, driven by poor infrastructure and economic hardship. RMIT University is committed to making a measurable impact in this space.
Across our campuses, we are focused on reducing our own water use intensity by prioritising efficiency, water harvesting, and reuse. Through dynamic partnerships with water authorities, governments, and non-governmental organisations, we work to advance research, education, and practical solutions for water conservation, pollution prevention, and securing resilient water systems for the future.
Our efforts contribute to building healthier, more sustainable communities locally and globally, helping to realise the promise of SDG 6.
Water is fundamental to life, health and sustainable development, and the higher education sector has an important role to play in advancing sustainable water management and addressing global water challenges.
The Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings assess universities' contributions towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with SDG 6 focused on Clean Water and Sanitation. The goal recognises that access to safe drinking water, effective sanitation and responsible water management are essential foundations for healthy and resilient communities.
While many communities benefit from established water and sanitation infrastructure, significant challenges remain globally. Population growth, climate change, water scarcity, pollution and extreme weather events continue to place pressure on freshwater resources and water systems. These challenges highlight the need for innovation, collaboration and long-term solutions that strengthen water security and resilience.
RMIT University is committed to contributing to these efforts through research, education, operations and partnerships. Across our campuses, we work to improve water efficiency, reduce potable water consumption and support water harvesting and reuse. Through collaboration with government, industry and community partners, RMIT researchers are developing practical solutions to challenges including water quality, wastewater treatment, ecosystem restoration, climate resilience and sustainable water management.
By combining research, innovation and responsible operational practices, RMIT is helping create healthier, more resilient and more sustainable communities in Australia, Vietnam and around the world, contributing to the achievement of SDG 6.
RMIT monitors water consumption across its campuses to support efficient water management and identify opportunities to reduce potable water use. Water consumption is measured through retailer-supplied meters installed across University sites, with different water retailers servicing individual campuses.
RMIT uses the Envizi platform to centralise water consumption monitoring and reporting across its campuses. Envizi consolidates water-use data, enabling the University to track consumption trends, identify potential anomalies and inform water-efficiency initiatives. In 2025, the Bundoora and Brunswick campuses joined the WaterSmart program, a government-funded initiative delivered by water retailers to help organisations reduce water consumption and operating costs through enhanced digital monitoring. Additional RMIT locations are expected to join the program progressively.
In addition to mains water consumption, RMIT captures and reuses rainwater and stormwater through water-harvesting systems installed across campus. While volumes of harvested water are not directly metered, their use reduces reliance on potable water supplies and contributes to lower mains water consumption.
Water consumption performance is reported annually through RMIT’s Sustainability Annual Report and Annual Report, supporting transparency and accountability in the University’s approach to water stewardship and resource management.
RMIT is committed to reducing water use intensity across its campuses through improved efficiency, water harvesting and reuse initiatives. Our Design Standards support this commitment by setting minimum water-efficiency requirements for fixtures and fittings, encouraging water capture and storage, and incorporating water-sensitive urban design principles into campus landscapes and infrastructure.
In 2025, RMIT continued to monitor and manage potable water consumption across its operations. Water consumption data helps identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce demand on drinking water supplies and support responsible water stewardship across the University.
In 2025, RMIT’s global consumption of potable water totalled 208,971 kilolitres, marking an overall 10 per cent reduction from the previous 2024 result of 233,472 kilolitres.
The breakdown is as follows:
In addition to reducing overall water consumption, RMIT tracks water use intensity across its Australian operations to monitor efficiency improvements relative to student and staff activity over time. Based on the most recently reported data, water efficiency was 2,340 litres per equivalent full-time student load (EFTSL) representing approximately 61 per cent reduction compared with the 2007 baseline.
This long-term improvement reflects the University's ongoing investment in water-efficient infrastructure, water harvesting and reuse initiatives, smart metering, and water-sensitive design across its campuses.
RMIT Australia's water consumption (kL), 2022-2025. Water use has generally declined since 2022, with 2025 consumption remaining 17% below 2022 levels despite year-to-year variation.
RMIT Australia water use intensity (kL/EFTSL), 2022-2025. Water use intensity declined from 3.3 kL/EFTSL in 2022 to 2.3 kL/EFTSL in 2025 and remained well below the 2007 baseline of 6.0 kL/EFTSL.
RMIT's Australian campuses are connected to municipal sewerage networks that ensure wastewater is safely collected, treated and managed by regulated water authorities and service providers.
All wastewater generated at RMIT's Melbourne campuses is transferred through the central sewerage system and treated by Melbourne Water, in partnership with Melbourne's metropolitan water retailers, including Greater Western Water, Yarra Valley Water and South East Water. This ensures wastewater is managed in accordance with regulatory requirements and established public health and environmental standards.
Wastewater services are provided as part of RMIT's water supply arrangements and are captured through the University's water accounts. As wastewater treatment is managed through centralised public infrastructure, 100 per cent of wastewater generated at RMIT's Australian campuses is directed to authorised treatment facilities for processing prior to release or reuse within the broader water system.
Example water utility account showing water consumption, sewer usage and associated charges for an RMIT property during a 29-day billing period in 2025.
RMIT has policies, management systems and operational controls in place to prevent pollution and protect water quality across its campuses.
RMIT Property Services Group maintains an Environmental Management System certified to ISO 14001, providing a framework for environmental risk management and regulatory compliance. The system includes a focus on water conservation and sustainable water management, including water harvesting, reuse and water-sensitive design.
Property Services Group is certified and externally audited against five ISO management system standards, including ISO 14001 Environmental Management and ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety.
To manage pollution risks to waterways and water infrastructure, RMIT:
Together, these measures help protect water quality, reduce environmental risk and support responsible management of RMIT's water systems.
RMIT provides free access to drinking water across its campuses through a network of hydration stations, drinking fountains and potable water taps. These facilities support the health and wellbeing of students, staff and visitors while encouraging the use of reusable water bottles and reducing reliance on single-use plastics.
More than 100 drinking water fountains are located throughout RMIT campuses, many featuring distinctive yellow graphics designed by an RMIT student to improve visibility and encourage use. Key hydration station locations are identified on campus maps and through the RMIT Navigator app, making them easy for students and visitors to locate.
In addition to drinking fountains, RMIT provides more than 180 potable water taps through kitchens, kitchenettes, student common areas and other shared facilities across its campuses.
In 2025, temporary drinking fountains were installed on each campus for major campus events, in addition to existing infrastructure, and attendees were encouraged to bring reusable water bottles.
As RMIT campuses are open to the public, many of these drinking water facilities are also available to visitors and members of the wider community.
RMIT's Sustainability Policy is supported by comprehensive Design Standards that guide the planning, construction and refurbishment of university-owned and leased facilities. These standards help ensure that water efficiency, water reuse and sustainable water management are incorporated into campus development projects.
The Design Standards promote responsible water management through water-efficient fixtures, rainwater capture and reuse, water-sensitive urban design, and infrastructure that supports long-term resource efficiency. Water-related requirements are embedded across multiple building systems, including stormwater drainage, roof drainage, rainwater harvesting, fire services and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
To support effective water management, RMIT uses digital platforms to consolidate water-use data, monitor consumption trends and support water-efficiency initiatives across its campuses. The University also maintains approximately 1.3 million litres of on-site water storage capacity, supporting the capture and reuse of rainwater and stormwater for non-potable uses such as toilet flushing and irrigation. The use of harvested water offsets potable water demand, which results in reduced mains water consumption.
Through RMIT's asset lifecycle replacement program, ageing infrastructure is progressively upgraded with more efficient technologies to reduce water consumption and improve operational performance.
Students, staff and visitors can also report water service issues, including leaks and faulty fixtures, through the Property Services Desk, supporting early intervention and responsible management of campus water resources.
Phone: 03 9925 2111
RMIT incorporates water-conscious planting and landscape design principles to minimise water usage across its campuses through its Design Standards. In addition to supporting water conservation, these standards contribute to the protection and regeneration of ecological value, increased biodiversity, and the creation of healthy and resilient campus environments.
A key element of RMIT's approach is the use of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), which integrates landscape and water management practices to capture, filter and reuse stormwater while reducing impacts on local waterways. WSUD features incorporated into campus design may include rain gardens, urban greening, bio-swales, permeable surfaces, stormwater capture and reuse systems, and drought-tolerant native and indigenous plantings.
WSUD principles are incorporated into campus developments and landscapes, including the City Campus precinct, where rain gardens and planted landscapes help manage stormwater while enhancing biodiversity and amenity.
RMIT also prioritises the use of resilient and drought-tolerant vegetation. The University's annual tree audit identified 2,048 trees across Australian campuses in 2024-25, with 55 new trees planted and 39 lost, resulting in a net gain of 16 trees.
Approximately 87 per cent of the University's tree population comprises Indigenous, Victorian Native or Australian Native species, supporting biodiversity while reducing long-term water demands.
Tree data and planting records are maintained through the University's tree audit program and inform campus planning, landscape management and future planting activities. The full list of trees and their mapped locations are available in the latest tree audit report which is reviewed and used by our Project Managers and Contractors.
At RMIT's Bundoora Campus, the Keelbundoora Scarred Trees and Heritage Trail highlights the cultural significance of Indigenous landscapes and the resilience of native ecosystems. Developed through collaboration between RMIT, the Ngarara Willim Centre and the Wurundjeri Land Council, the trail recognises the deep connection between Aboriginal peoples, Country and the natural environment.
The landscape surrounding the trail includes many Indigenous and Australian native tree species that are well adapted to local conditions and require less water than many exotic alternatives. These plantings contribute to RMIT's broader approach to water-conscious landscaping by supporting biodiversity, enhancing climate resilience and reducing long-term irrigation requirements.
Visitors can explore the site through the heritage trail and accompanying online walking map, which provides opportunities to learn about cultural heritage, native ecosystems and sustainable land management practices.
An online walking map helps to further guide the way.
RMIT's Sustainability Policy establishes the University's commitment to sustainable resource management, including ‘water efficiency, conservation and education’, with established conservation approaches including reuse.
The policy provides a framework for integrating sustainable water management practices across campus operations, infrastructure planning and future development projects.
The policy is publicly available through RMIT's Policy Register and is reviewed and updated in accordance with University governance processes.
Key policy commitments that support sustainable water management include:
These commitments underpin RMIT's approach to water efficiency, rainwater harvesting, water reuse, water-sensitive urban design and responsible management of campus water resources.
RMIT captures and reuses rainwater and stormwater across its campuses to reduce reliance on potable water supplies and support sustainable water management practices.
The University maintains approximately 1.3 megalitres of rainwater and stormwater storage capacity across 14 buildings and campus locations. These systems provide non-potable water for uses including toilet flushing and irrigation.
While RMIT measures potable water consumption through its water billing and monitoring systems, the volume of reused water is currently estimated based on the capacity and operating characteristics of installed harvesting and storage systems. This reuse offsets potable water demand and contributes to reduced mains water consumption across the University's campuses.
Examples of water harvesting infrastructure that capture and provide sources of water for reuse include:
The consideration of water harvesting, storage and reuse opportunities is embedded within RMIT's Design Standards, helping expand water reuse capacity as new developments and refurbishment projects occur across the University.
RMIT provides educational opportunities for local communities to learn more about good water management through local partnerships, linked school programs and our own formal training offerings.
Free opportunities are available through ‘citizen science’ type activities that are included in some of our partnership work, such as RMIT's Aquatic Pollution Prevention Partnership (A3P) and other initiatives.
RMIT's Exploring Unseen Threats: Contaminants in Port Phillip Bay project provides hands-on environmental education through citizen science, helping community members build their understanding of water quality and aquatic ecosystem health.
The project engages volunteers in monitoring activities that contribute to research on contaminants affecting waterways and coastal environments, while increasing public awareness of the challenges facing Port Phillip Bay.
By participating in data collection and environmental monitoring, volunteers gain practical insights into water pollution, contaminant pathways and the importance of protecting aquatic ecosystems. The project enables participants to contribute directly to scientific research while developing a deeper understanding of the relationship between human activities, water quality and environmental health.
Through this combination of community participation, environmental education and scientific research, the project helps build water literacy and supports informed community action to protect waterways and coastal environments.
It also demonstrates how universities can work with community members to improve understanding of water-related challenges and promote sustainable water management practices.
RMIT supports water conservation and waterway health beyond its campuses through research partnerships and collaborative projects with government agencies, water authorities, community organisations and environmental stakeholders. Through these activities, the University contributes expertise, research and practical solutions that help protect waterways, improve water quality and support sustainable water management in local and regional communities.
Groups contributing to water conservation off campus through key research and partnership activities include:
RMIT's Aquatic Pollution Prevention Partnership (A3P), delivered in partnership with Melbourne Water, supports the protection and improvement of waterways, wetlands and bays across the Port Phillip and Westernport region. The partnership undertakes applied research to identify sources of pollution, assess risks to aquatic ecosystems and inform practical interventions that improve waterway health.
Using a collaborative model involving researchers, water authorities and environmental stakeholders, A3P develops and translates scientific knowledge into practical management approaches that support water conservation, pollution prevention and ecosystem protection. The partnership assists waterway managers to prioritise and design interventions that reduce environmental pressures and improve the condition of waterways and bays.
The research program supports both strategic planning and day-to-day waterway management activities, helping to protect aquatic environments and strengthen the long-term sustainability of regional water systems. Through knowledge exchange and applied research, A3P contributes directly to off-campus water conservation outcomes and healthier waterways for local communities.
In 2025, RMIT was named a partner in COAST-SCAPES, a European Union funded project that investigates aquatic pollution and applies nature-based solutions to improve the ecological, economic and social value of estuaries.
Project sites include Western Port Bay in Victoria and the Mar Menor and Ebro River in Spain.
The project engages scientists, communities, government and industry from the early stages to develop water management and governance approaches that can be replicated in other coastal regions. Planned outputs include integrated indicators, climate early warning systems and scalable resilience plans.
Through COAST-SCAPES, RMIT contributes its expertise in water quality and aquatic pollution to international efforts to protect coastal waters and support sustainable water reuse.
RMIT uses on-campus water harvesting, storage and reuse infrastructure to reduce reliance on potable water supplies and support sustainable water management across its campuses.
The University maintains approximately 1.3 million litres of on-site water storage capacity through a combination of integrated and freestanding rainwater and stormwater collection systems. Captured water is reused for non-potable purposes including toilet flushing and irrigation, reducing demand on municipal water supplies.
At the Bundoora Campus, stormwater is collected and stored in natural basins. When water levels are sufficient, excess water is reused in cooling tower operations, helping to reduce potable water consumption while making productive use of harvested stormwater.
RMIT's approach to water harvesting and reuse is guided by its Design Standards, which require consideration of sustainable water management solutions in campus development and refurbishment projects. This includes provisions relating to stormwater management, rainwater harvesting and water-sensitive urban design, supporting the ongoing expansion of water reuse opportunities across the University.
Through these initiatives, RMIT captures and reuses alternative water sources on campus, helping conserve potable water and improve the resilience of its water systems.
Please click on the individual image above to view it in full.
RMIT collaborates with governments, water authorities, industry partners, research organisations and community stakeholders to advance solutions that support long-term water security, improve water quality and protect aquatic ecosystems.
The Aquatic Environmental Stress (AQUEST) Research Group works with water authorities, governments and environmental organisations to better understand and manage threats to waterways and aquatic ecosystems. Through collaborative projects focused on pollution prevention, contaminant management, waterway health and ecosystem resilience, AQUEST generates evidence that supports improved water management outcomes for communities and the environment.
A flagship initiative is the Aquatic Pollution Prevention Partnership (A3P), delivered in partnership with Melbourne Water. The partnership develops practical solutions to reduce pollution in waterways, wetlands and bays across the Port Phillip and Westernport region, helping improve water quality and support healthier aquatic ecosystems.
The Water: Effective Technologies and Tools (WETT) Research Centre brings together researchers and external partners to address challenges relating to water security, water quality, wastewater management and sustainable water infrastructure. Through collaborations with government agencies, water utilities, industry organisations and research institutions, WETT develops practical solutions for water resource management, water reclamation, resource recovery and wastewater treatment.
The Centre's partners include Melbourne Water, Yarra Valley Water, South East Water, Barwon Water, Coliban Water, the Environmental Protection Authority Victoria and the Victorian Smart Water Fund, demonstrating a collaborative approach to addressing current and future water security challenges.
RMIT researchers also contribute to major national water security initiatives through programs such as the Flow Monitoring, Evaluation and Research (Flow-MER) Program, which supports the long-term management of environmental water across the Murray-Darling Basin. By working with governments, water managers and research partners, Flow-MER helps improve understanding of how environmental flows support river ecosystems, biodiversity and community outcomes, providing evidence to inform sustainable water management decisions across one of Australia's most significant river systems.
RMIT's Centre for Nature Positive Solutions works with water authorities to improve water quality and drought resilience through nature-based solutions. In partnership with Westernport Water and CSIRO, constructed floating wetlands in wastewater lagoons reduced greenhouse gas emissions over two years. These approaches are now being applied with Melbourne Water and Bass Coast farmers to improve water quality in farm dams.
RMIT also works with communities to improve understanding of water-related challenges through citizen science and environmental monitoring initiatives. Projects delivered through AQUEST engage schools, community groups and environmental partners in understanding pollution pathways, waterway health and aquatic ecosystem protection, helping build awareness and support for long-term water security.
Together, these partnerships help translate research into practical action, supporting resilient water systems, healthier waterways and sustainable water management outcomes for communities locally and beyond.
RMIT promotes responsible water use through a combination of education, campus infrastructure and practical resources that encourage students, staff, retailers and visitors to conserve water and reduce reliance on single-use products.
To support the use of reusable water bottles, RMIT provides free drinking water across its campuses through a network of hydration stations, drinking fountains and potable water taps. Locations are published via campus maps and the RMIT Navigator app, ensuring students, staff and visitors can easily access free drinking water. As RMIT campuses are open to the public, many of these facilities are also available to members of the wider community.
RMIT's Sustainable Events Guide helps event organisers incorporate sustainability into planning and delivery, including the responsible use and management of water. The guide encourages practical actions that reduce resource consumption and improve environmental performance at university events. In 2025, major campus events were used to trial new sustainable event practices, including temporary hydration stations on each campus.
The University's Sustainable Retail Framework supports retailers operating on campus to improve sustainability performance within their day-to-day operations, including resource efficiency and responsible water use.
To further encourage refill and reuse behaviours, the RMIT Store offers a range of reusable drink bottles, helping students, staff and visitors reduce waste while making use of free drinking water facilities available across campus.
Beyond campus operations, RMIT also promotes awareness of water stewardship through its research, partnerships and community engagement activities.
Through initiatives led by the Aquatic Environmental Stress (AQUEST) Research Group, the Aquatic Pollution Prevention Partnership (A3P) and projects such as Exploring Unseen Threats: Contaminants in Port Phillip Bay, RMIT works with schools, community groups, government agencies and environmental organisations to increase understanding of water quality, pollution prevention and aquatic ecosystem health.
These activities help promote and build conscious water usage, awareness of water-related challenges and support informed action to protect waterways and water resources across the wider community.
The RMIT Store sells a range of reusable water bottles at different price points to support students, staff and visitors to avail of free water on campuses.
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.
Learn more about our commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
