Apply for a stormwater harvesting licence to connect to a stormwater drain, watercourse or open channel, or harvest stormwater from a waterway managed by Melbourne Water.

​Early planning is important to ensuring a successful WSUD project.

The concept design stage involves selecting the type, location and approximate size of stormwater treatments.

The functional design stage contains the next level of detail following the approved concept design.

The detailed design ​is based on the approved concept and functional designs, and involves documenting the design and functional elements with detailed design drawings and specifications.

Plants species used in raingardens, wetlands and swales must be perennial with an extensive fibrous root system.

Keep a close eye on construction to make sure the design drawings and specifications are followed. A few simple mistakes can cause plants to not survive or thrive.

You should generally inspect water sensitive urban design (WSUD) assets every three months for maintenance once the plants are established.

The following checklists, design examples and case studies have been developed by Melbourne Water for use by councils.

A model is usually needed during the design of stormwater treatments to help determine the appropriate size and design configuration, and prove that it meets minimum planning requirements.