South East Water
Victoria · Melbourne South-East
Avg. Quality Score
Overview
South East Water is one of three retail water companies serving metropolitan Melbourne, providing drinking water and sewerage services to around 1.8 million people across Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs. The utility operates in an area stretching from Port Melbourne through to the Mornington Peninsula and east to the Yarra Ranges foothills.
History and Formation
South East Water was established in 1995 as part of a major restructure of Melbourne’s water industry. Before this, water services in the region were managed by a combination of the former Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW) and local water boards. The restructure separated the wholesale and retail functions of Melbourne’s water system, creating three retail water companies — South East Water, Yarra Valley Water, and City West Water — with Melbourne Water retaining the wholesale supply role.
Service Area
The utility serves approximately 930,000 properties across a service area of about 3,640 square kilometres. The area covers 19 local government areas, including Casey, Greater Dandenong, Frankston, Kingston, Monash, and the Mornington Peninsula. The service area includes a mix of established suburban areas, new growth corridors around Cranbourne and Clyde, and semi-rural communities on the Mornington Peninsula.
Water Supply
South East Water purchases treated drinking water from Melbourne Water, the wholesale supplier. Melbourne Water treats water from its protected catchment reservoirs and the Victorian Desalination Plant and delivers it through a transfer system to the three retailers. South East Water then manages the local distribution network that delivers water to customers.
The water supplied to South East Water’s customers primarily originates from the Thomson, Upper Yarra, Maroondah, and Silvan reservoir catchments in Victoria’s Central Highlands. These are largely closed, forested catchments that produce high-quality source water. A portion of supply also comes from the Victorian Desalination Plant at Wonthaggi when ordered by the state government.
Distribution Network
South East Water manages approximately 9,800 kilometres of water mains and 9,400 kilometres of sewerage pipes. The network includes 113 reservoirs and tanks, 89 water pump stations, and 135 sewage pump stations. Given the topography of the service area, which ranges from sea level to elevated areas in the Dandenong Ranges, the distribution system is divided into multiple pressure zones.
Water Quality
As a retail distributor, South East Water monitors water quality throughout its distribution network to ensure compliance with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. The utility works closely with Melbourne Water, which manages catchment-to-tap quality assurance. South East Water tests for a range of parameters at customer taps and throughout the network, including microbial indicators, disinfectant residuals, pH, and turbidity. The results are reported annually and published online.
Melbourne’s water supply is generally recognised for its high quality, with low turbidity, low hardness, and consistent chemical characteristics owing to the protected catchment sources.
Recent Projects
South East Water has invested in programs to improve the liveability of Melbourne’s south-east, including water-sensitive urban design, recycled water schemes, and sewer network upgrades. The utility has developed recycled water supply systems in new housing estates and has undertaken substantial sewer augmentation to reduce the risk of spills during wet weather. Digital metering trials and smart network monitoring are also underway to improve leak detection and water efficiency.
Key Facts
- Population Served
- 1,800,000
- Treatment Plants
- 0 (wholesale supply from Melbourne Water)
- Source Water
- Surface water, Desalination (via Melbourne Water)
- Suburbs Covered
- 384
Suburbs Served
Avg. Hardness
Avg. pH
Avg. Fluoride
Utility overview
- State
- Victoria (VIC)
- Service Area
- Melbourne South-East
- Website
- www.southeastwater.com.au
- Data Source
- View water quality data
Supply zones
65 supply zones operated by South East Water
Balnarring
Bayswater
Beaumaris
3 suburbs
Belgrave
Berwick
Bittern
4 suburbs
Boneo
Boronia
Brighton / Heatherton
Bunyip
Cardinia
Carrum Downs
3 suburbs
Catani
Caulfield
29 suburbs
Chelsea
Clyde
Clyde North
5 suburbs
Cora Lynn
5 suburbs
Cranbourne
Dandenong
Dandenong North
4 suburbs
Devon Meadows
Doveton
4 suburbs
Dromana
4 suburbs
Drouin
Emerald
Ferntree Gully
4 suburbs
Frankston
Frankston South
4 suburbs
Garfield
4 suburbs
Gembrook
Hallam
Hastings
Karingal
1 suburb
Koo Wee Rup
4 suburbs
Korumburra
Lang Lang
4 suburbs
Launching Place
Longwarry
3 suburbs
Moorabbin
50 suburbs
Mordialloc
Mornington
6 suburbs
Mount Martha
1 suburb
Narre Warren
3 suburbs
Noble Park
Oakleigh
28 suburbs
Officer
2 suburbs
Pakenham
4 suburbs
Patterson Lakes
6 suburbs
Pearcedale
6 suburbs
Portsea
Rosebud
Rowville
Rye
Somerville
5 suburbs
Sorrento
3 suburbs
South Melbourne
Springvale
Tarago
50 suburbs
Tynong
3 suburbs
Upper Beaconsfield
4 suburbs
Wantirna
4 suburbs
Warragul
5 suburbs
Suburbs served by South East Water
384 suburbs with water quality data
Aberfeldy
VIC
Ada
VIC
Adams Estate
VIC
Albert Park
VIC
Allambee
VIC
Allambee Reserve
VIC
Amor
VIC
Arawata
VIC
Arthurs Seat
VIC
Aspendale
VIC
Aspendale Gardens
VIC
Athlone
VIC
Balaclava
VIC
Balnarring
VIC
Balnarring Beach
VIC
Baw Baw
VIC
Baxter
VIC
Bayles
VIC
Bayswater
VIC
Beaconsfield
VIC
Beaconsfield Upper
VIC
Beaumaris
VIC
Beenak
VIC
Belgrave
VIC
Belgrave Heights
VIC
Belgrave South
VIC
Bellview
VIC
Belvedere Park
VIC
Bena
VIC
Bentleigh
VIC
Bentleigh East
VIC
Berwick
VIC
Bittern
VIC
Bittern West
VIC
Black Rock
VIC
Black Rock North
VIC
Blairgowrie
VIC
Blind Bight
VIC
Bona Vista
VIC
Bonbeach
VIC
Boneo
VIC
Boola
VIC
Booran Road Po
VIC
Boronia
VIC
Botanic Ridge
VIC
Braeside
VIC
Brandon Park
VIC
Brandy Creek
VIC
Bravington
VIC
Brighton
VIC
Brighton East
VIC
Brighton North
VIC
Brighton Road
VIC
Buln Buln
VIC
Buln Buln East
VIC
Bunyip
VIC
Bunyip North
VIC
Caldermeade
VIC
Cannons Creek
VIC
Cape Schanck
VIC
Capel Sound
VIC
Cardinia
VIC
Caringal
VIC
Carnegie
VIC
Carrum
VIC
Carrum Downs
VIC
Catani
VIC
Caulfield
VIC
Caulfield East
VIC
Caulfield Junction
VIC
Caulfield North
VIC
Caulfield South
VIC
Central Park
VIC
Centreville
VIC
Chadstone Centre
VIC
Chelsea
VIC
Chelsea Heights
VIC
Cheltenham
VIC
Cheltenham East
VIC
Cheltenham North
VIC
Childers
VIC
Clarinda
VIC
Clayton South
VIC
Clematis
VIC
Cloverlea
VIC
Clyde
VIC
Clyde North
VIC
Coalville
VIC
Coatesville
VIC
Coopers Creek
VIC
Cora Lynn
VIC
Corinella
VIC
Coronet Bay
VIC
Cranbourne
VIC
Cranbourne East
VIC
Cranbourne North
VIC
Cranbourne South
VIC
Cranbourne West
VIC
Crib Point
VIC
Cromer
VIC
Crossover
VIC
Dalmore
VIC
Dandenong
VIC
Dandenong East
VIC
Dandenong North
VIC
Darling
VIC
Darling South
VIC
Darnum
VIC
Dendy
VIC
Devon Meadows
VIC
Dewhurst
VIC
Dingley Village
VIC
Doveton
VIC
Dromana
VIC
Drouin
VIC
Drouin East
VIC
Drouin South
VIC
Drouin West
VIC
Dunearn
VIC
Edithvale
VIC
Ellinbank
VIC
Elsternwick
VIC
Elwood
VIC
Endeavour Hills
VIC
Erica
VIC
Eumemmerring
VIC
Fairbank
VIC
Ferndale
VIC
Ferntree Gully
VIC
Fingal
VIC
Five Ways
VIC
Fiveways
VIC
Flinders
VIC
Flinders Naval Depot
VIC
Fountain Gate
VIC
Frankston
VIC
Frankston East
VIC
Frankston Heights
VIC
Frankston North
VIC
Frankston South
VIC
Fumina
VIC
Fumina South
VIC
Gainsborough
VIC
Garden City
VIC
Gardenvale
VIC
Garfield
VIC
Garfield North
VIC
Gentle Annie
VIC
Gilderoy
VIC
Gladysdale
VIC
Glen Huntly
VIC
Grantville
VIC
Guys Hill
VIC
Hallam
VIC
Hallora
VIC
Hampton
VIC
Hampton East
VIC
Hampton North
VIC
Hampton Park
VIC
Harkaway
VIC
Hastings
VIC
Heath Hill
VIC
Heatherton
VIC
Highett
VIC
Hill End
VIC
HMAS Cerberus
VIC
Hoddles Creek
VIC
Holmesglen
VIC
Hopetoun Gardens
VIC
Hughesdale
VIC
Huntingdale
VIC
Icy Creek
VIC
Iona
VIC
Jacob Creek
VIC
Jam Jerrup
VIC
Jeetho
VIC
Jericho
VIC
Jindivick
VIC
Jordanville
VIC
Jumbunna
VIC
Junction Village
VIC
Kardella
VIC
Kardella South
VIC
Karingal
VIC
Karingal Centre
VIC
Keysborough
VIC
Knox City Centre
VIC
Knoxfield
VIC
Kongwak
VIC
Koo Wee Rup
VIC
Koo Wee Rup North
VIC
Korumburra
VIC
Korumburra South
VIC
Krowera
VIC
Kunyung
VIC
Labertouche
VIC
Lang Lang
VIC
Lang Lang East
VIC
Langwarrin
VIC
Langwarrin South
VIC
Lardner
VIC
Lillico
VIC
Limonite
VIC
Loch
VIC
Loch Valley
VIC
Longwarry
VIC
Longwarry North
VIC
Lynbrook
VIC
Lyndhurst
VIC
Lysterfield
VIC
Lysterfield South
VIC
Main Ridge
VIC
Maryknoll
VIC
McCrae
VIC
Mckinnon
VIC
Mentone
VIC
Mentone East
VIC
Merricks
VIC
Merricks Beach
VIC
Merricks North
VIC
Middle Park
VIC
Modella
VIC
Monomeith
VIC
Moondarra
VIC
Moorabbin
VIC
Moorabbin Airport
VIC
Moorabbin East
VIC
Moorooduc
VIC
Mordialloc
VIC
Mordialloc North
VIC
Mornington
VIC
Mount Burnett
VIC
Mount Eliza
VIC
Mount Martha
VIC
Mountain Gate
VIC
Mountain View
VIC
Moyarra
VIC
Mt Baw Baw
VIC
Murrumbeena
VIC
Nangana
VIC
Nar Nar Goon
VIC
Nar Nar Goon North
VIC
Narracan
VIC
Narre Warren
VIC
Narre Warren East
VIC
Narre Warren North
VIC
Narre Warren South
VIC
Nayook
VIC
Neerim
VIC
Neerim East
VIC
Neerim Junction
VIC
Neerim North
VIC
Neerim South
VIC
Newborough East
VIC
Nilma
VIC
Nilma North
VIC
Noble Park
VIC
Noble Park East
VIC
Noble Park North
VIC
Noojee
VIC
North Road
VIC
Nyora
VIC
Oakleigh South
VIC
Officer
VIC
Officer South
VIC
Ormond
VIC
Osborne
VIC
Outtrim
VIC
Pakenham
VIC
Pakenham South
VIC
Pakenham Upper
VIC
Parkdale
VIC
Patterson
VIC
Patterson Lakes
VIC
Pearcedale
VIC
Piedmont
VIC
Pines Forest
VIC
Pinewood
VIC
Pioneer Bay
VIC
Point Leo
VIC
Poowong
VIC
Poowong East
VIC
Poowong North
VIC
Port Melbourne
VIC
Portsea
VIC
Powelltown
VIC
Prahran
VIC
Queensferry
VIC
Ranceby
VIC
Rawson
VIC
Red Hill
VIC
Red Hill South
VIC
Ripplebrook
VIC
Ripponlea
VIC
Rokeby
VIC
Rosebud
VIC
Rosebud Plaza
VIC
Rosebud South
VIC
Rosebud West
VIC
Rowville
VIC
Rye
VIC
Rythdale
VIC
Safety Beach
VIC
Sandhurst
VIC
Sandown Village
VIC
Sandringham
VIC
Scoresby
VIC
Seaford
VIC
Seaview
VIC
Selby
VIC
Shady Creek
VIC
Shoreham
VIC
Skye
VIC
Somers
VIC
Somerville
VIC
Sorrento
VIC
South Melbourne
VIC
South Melbourne Dc
VIC
South Yarra
VIC
Southbank
VIC
Southland Centre
VIC
Springvale
VIC
Springvale South
VIC
St Andrews Beach
VIC
St Kilda
VIC
St Kilda East
VIC
St Kilda South
VIC
St Kilda West
VIC
Strzelecki
VIC
Studfield
VIC
Syndal
VIC
Tanjil
VIC
Tanjil Bren
VIC
Tanjil South
VIC
Tarago
VIC
Tarwin East
VIC
Tecoma
VIC
Tenby Point
VIC
Tetoora Road
VIC
Thalloo
VIC
Thaloo
VIC
The Basin
VIC
The Gurdies
VIC
Thorpdale
VIC
Thorpdale South
VIC
Three Bridges
VIC
Tonimbuk
VIC
Toombon
VIC
Tooradin
VIC
Toorongo
VIC
Tootgarook
VIC
Torwood
VIC
Trafalgar
VIC
Trafalgar East
VIC
Trafalgar South
VIC
Trida
VIC
Tuerong
VIC
Tyabb
VIC
Tynong
VIC
Tynong North
VIC
Upper Ferntree Gully
VIC
Upwey
VIC
Vervale
VIC
Vesper
VIC
Walhalla
VIC
Wantirna
VIC
Wantirna South
VIC
Warneet
VIC
Warragul
VIC
Warragul South
VIC
Warragul West
VIC
Waterways
VIC
Wattletree Road Po
VIC
Waverley Gardens
VIC
Were Street Po
VIC
Westbury
VIC
Whitelaw
VIC
Willow Grove
VIC
Windsor
VIC
Wishart
VIC
Woodleigh
VIC
Yannathan
VIC
Yarragon
VIC
Yarragon South
VIC
Disclaimer: Information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or professional guidance. Data is sourced from South East Water (2023-24 annual report). Values shown are based on the most recent published water quality reports and may not reflect real-time conditions at your tap. For specific health concerns, consult a qualified health professional or contact South East Water directly. See our Terms of Use.