For over 125 years, Melbourne Water has been planning and building for our future.

Thank you for joining us on this exciting challenge.

Melbourne Water takes its commitments to the people that we serve, the five million population in the region of Melbourne very seriously. We're a state-owned utility that is responsible for delivering high quality services including the water and sewage and waterways to the whole region.

Part of that commitment is that we have committed to zero emissions.

We understand how difficult that is going to be. We have a great plan on how we're going to reduce the emissions associated with our energy use.

There is a more difficult problem associated with the future of emissions associated with sewage treatment plants so we really hope that you will join us in this exciting challenge and see if we can come up with a technical solution that will solve this for the whole world.

Melbourne Water is one of Australia's significant greenhouse gas emitters. Greenhouse gas emissions are reported as scope one emissions.

Emissions directly emitted by Melbourne Water's operations, mostly from waste water treatment. And scope two emissions are emissions emitted from Melbourne Water's use of grid electricity.

Melbourne Water has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2025 and to achieve net zero emissions by 2030. The removal of nitrogen via activated sludge plants is the highest emitter of nitrous oxide at both treatment plants.

Lagoons and sludge drying pans emit significant quantities of methane.

Melbourne Water is seeking innovative, workable and affordable ideas that will result in lower greenhouse gas emissions while treating Melbourne's waste water to its current high standard now and into the future.

The innovation competition is about thinking creatively about how sewage is treated and what changes would result in reduced scope one greenhouse gas emissions.

Through the innovation competition we are encouraging you to submit ideas and embrace the concept of sustainable emission reduction.

Please see our Melbourne Water greenhouse gas emissions innovation competition website for details.

The competition will close third of December, 2018. Melbourne Water, enhancing life and livability.