Raising National Water Standards
On this page:
- About the Raising National Water Standards Programme
- What is the Raising National Water Standards investing in?
About the Raising National Water Standards Programme
Under the Raising National Water Standards Programme, the National Water Commission is investing in high priority activities to improve Australia's national capacity to measure, monitor and manage its water resources. A total of $200 million over five years has been allocated to the Raising National Water Standards Programme, funded from the $2 billion Australian Government Water Fund.
If Australia is to improve how we manage our water resources in periods of uncertainty and variable supply, we need to develop common standards and approaches for collecting, monitoring and reporting on these resources. The objective of the Raising National Water Standards Programme is to better manage water resources through:
- improving capacity to monitor, evaluate and report on water resources at the national, regional and catchment level
- improving knowledge, information and skills needed to better manage our water resources, and
- enhancing innovation for rural and urban water use efficiency.
Funds from the Raising National Water Standards Programme will be directed at high priority activities across three strategic investment areas; advancing the implementation of the National Water Initiative; improving integrated water management across Australia; and improving knowledge and understanding of our water resources.
Given the strategic nature of the programme, the Commission has developed two pathways for making investments; by commissioning activities from suitably qualified providers and organisations as well through projects identified through one or more national competitive grants processes.
Raising National Water Standards is one of two programmes under the Australian Government Water Fund which are administered by the National Water Commission. The second programme, Water Smart Australia offers support for large-scale practical water projects that contribute to improving water efficiency and environmental outcomes.
Funding has been announced for some Raising National Water Standards activities.
What is the Raising National Water Standards Programme investing in?
Investment through the Raising National Water Standards Programme is directed at activities that will achieve better outcomes when undertaken on a national basis and where compatibility is required across jurisdictions.
In some cases, this will result in the development of good practice guidance, national guidelines and national frameworks. In other cases investment will be made in other types of activities due to their demonstration or development value and potential contribution to overcoming a major barrier in the implementation of the NWI. Raising National Water Standards is not specifically a research and development programme.
The strategic and targeted nature of the Raising National Water Standards Programme will help to ensure key areas of water reform are adequately addressed to facilitate and contribute to improved water management in Australia. Raising National Water Standards investment will be supported by related investment under the Water Smart Australia programme.
The Commission has identified three strategic investment areas.
It is likely that some Raising National Water Standards investments will be relevant to more than one area given the integrated nature of water management.
Further information about the programme is available from the Raising National Water Standards publications section of this website.