Icon Water

Overview

Icon Water is the Australian Capital Territory’s sole water and sewerage provider, supplying drinking water to around 460,000 people in Canberra and the surrounding region. The utility is a Territory-owned corporation that manages the full water cycle, from catchment management through to water treatment, distribution, and wastewater services.

History and Formation

Water supply in the ACT has been centrally managed since Canberra’s early development as the national capital. The utility’s origins trace back to the Commonwealth Government’s Department of Works, which built the city’s initial water infrastructure. Over subsequent decades, various government bodies managed water services. In 2012, the utility was rebranded as Icon Water (previously known as ACTEW Water), reflecting a modernisation of the organisation’s identity and governance structure. Icon Water is jointly owned by the ACT Government, with its board operating under corporate governance arrangements.

Water Sources

Canberra’s drinking water is sourced from four major reservoirs located in the ranges surrounding the ACT: Corin Dam, Bendora Dam, and Cotter Dam on the Cotter River, and Googong Dam on the Queanbeyan River. The combined storage capacity of these reservoirs is approximately 278 gigalitres.

The Cotter River catchments are located within Namadgi National Park, providing high-quality source water from protected, largely forested catchments. The catchments were significantly affected by the 2003 Canberra bushfires, which burnt through large areas of the Cotter catchment and degraded source water quality for several years afterward.

In response to both drought and the bushfire impacts, the ACT Government invested in the Enlarged Cotter Dam project, completed in 2013. This increased the dam’s capacity from 4 gigalitres to 78 gigalitres, substantially improving the city’s water security.

Treatment Infrastructure

Icon Water operates two water treatment plants: the Stromlo Water Treatment Plant, which treats water from the Cotter catchment reservoirs, and the Googong Water Treatment Plant, which treats water from Googong Dam. The Stromlo plant was significantly upgraded following the 2003 bushfires, when the original treatment plant was destroyed and subsequently rebuilt with modern treatment technology.

Treatment processes at both plants include coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection using chlorine. Fluoride is added in accordance with ACT Health requirements.

Distribution Network

The distribution system consists of approximately 3,200 kilometres of water mains, 56 reservoirs, and 34 pump stations. Canberra’s planned urban layout, with its distinct town centres and suburbs, is reflected in the structured design of the water supply network. The sewerage system includes approximately 3,400 kilometres of sewer mains and the Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre, one of the largest inland wastewater treatment facilities in Australia.

Water Quality Monitoring

Icon Water conducts comprehensive water quality monitoring across the supply chain, from catchment to customer tap. Testing covers all parameters required under the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, including microbial indicators, physical characteristics (turbidity, pH, colour), and chemical parameters. The utility publishes annual drinking water quality reports and provides real-time information on dam levels and supply system performance.

Canberra’s water quality is generally regarded as high, reflecting the protected catchment sources and modern treatment infrastructure. The water is characteristically soft with low dissolved mineral content.

Recent Projects

Recent investment areas include ongoing catchment rehabilitation following the 2003 bushfires, with revegetation and erosion control programs in the Cotter catchment. Icon Water has also invested in mains renewal programs to address ageing infrastructure, smart metering technology, and demand management initiatives. The utility has progressed work on the Canberra Integrated Water System to improve the resilience of the supply network and explore options for diversifying water sources, including recycled water for non-potable uses.