About the Project

Living Water Smart is a Power and Water initiative helping communities across the Northern Territory reduce water use. Many people believe the Territory, particularly the Top End has an endless supply of water, but this is not true! In reality, we are using more water than can be sustainably sourced and supplied over the long term.

The program aims to help the Territory become smarter with its water use, while we continue to support investment, manage growth and the Territory lifestyle. Together we need to protect this precious resource, so we can preserve our water supply now and into the future.

Living Water Smart was designed to support our lifestyle and provide simple tips and tricks that we can all use everyday. It’s about everyone working together to reduce water waste and respect this natural and limited resource. Much of our water use is unnecessary and can easily be reduced, saving both water and money.

Living Water Smart supports communities, businesses, schools, councils, and government agencies across the Territory by offering simple, achievable ways to reduce water use.

Leaks

Leaks are one of the biggest sources of water waste across the Territory. Even a small, hidden leak can waste thousands of litres every day — and cost you hundreds of dollars each year.

That’s why Power and Water launched the Stop for a Leak campaign to help households and businesses find and fix leaks quickly. You can report a leak in your area or on public property through our website.

By working together to find and stop leaks, we can save water, reduce our bills, and make a big difference for our community.

Gardens and Irrigation

Living Water Smart has found that most Darwin residents over-water their gardens. But for many of us, the challenge of wrangling with our irrigation system or understanding how much water each plant needs is overwhelming. We often aren't aware of broken irrigation pipes or leaks or how to fix them. And what about those brown patches on our lawn?

Government and Councils

A key focus for Living Water Smart is partnering with local councils and government agencies across the Territory to ensure public green spaces are watered efficiently. We share information on the latest irrigation equipment and technologies, run training programs, and support the development of Water Management Plans to help manage water responsibly across public facilities and parks. We recently launched The Ultimate Irrigation User Guide which features easy-to-follow tips and advice on how to maintain a thriving garden while reducing water use, with top tips around irrigation design and seasonal watering tips.

Schools

We’re also inspiring our youngest Territorians through the That’s My Water! school curriculum — a collaboration between our Living Water Smart Demand Management Team and the Department of Education. A range of programs are available, tailored to different year levels (Years 3 to 8) and locations. This program educates our future generation about the value of water and how they can make a difference.

We also work with schools to save water and money by checking for leaks, optimising irrigation schedules, and helping school gardeners and contractors manage water efficiently across ovals and gardens.