Southern Rural Water are proud to have achieved net zero emissions for the 2024/25 financial year. A major milestone in their ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability and climate action.
This outcome is the result of several years of strategic planning, investment, and practical on-the-ground work to reduce their emissions footprint.
Net zero carbon emissions mean balancing the amount of greenhouse gases produced with those removed from the atmosphere. Starting from a baseline of 1,559 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, they brought their emissions down to zero. This was made possible through a combination of initiatives including: improving energy efficiency, expanding solar energy use, the roll out of zero-emissions vehicles, and offsetting any remaining emissions with certified carbon credits.
Southern Rural Water partnered with Wannon Water to access Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs). They’ve also been proud to partner with the Kiamal Solar Farm through the Zero Emissions Water initiative and to purchase accredited GreenPower, securing clean, renewable electricity for their operations.
This year, Southern Rural Water eliminated all Scope 2 emissions (from electricity use) and made solid progress on reducing Scope 1 emissions (from transport), with electric vehicle charging now in place and more electric vehicles on the road.
Southern Rural Water continue to report emissions under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme, ensuring full transparency and accountability across both direct (Scope 1) and indirect (Scope 2) emissions.
Reaching net zero this year is a big step in Southern Rural Water’s sustainability journey. While there is still more to do, they’re proud to be playing their part and supporting Victoria’s goal of net zero for the water sector by 2035 and statewide by 2045.
