Recycled water is keeping Werribee Open Range Zoo’s elephants comfortable in their new habitat.
Greater Western Water has built a 2.5 kilometre pipeline connecting the zoo to the Werribee Recycled Water Plant that runs under the Werribee River and allows the new 21-hectare elephant habitat to use recycled water.
The project was supported with a $2 million grant from the Integrated Water Management Program.
The pipeline means the habitat will have access to around 150 million litres of recycled water each year, reducing the need to use precious drinking water or water from the Werribee River to maintain a healthy home for the zoo’s 9 Asian elephants.
The pipeline has the capacity to provide up to 400 million litres of recycled water per year as the zoo grows.
The Elephant Trail includes two-world class pools for the elephants to enjoy as well as lush, green habitat.
The recycled water will also be used in the existing hippopotamus habitat and to irrigate the zoo’s grounds.
The zoo’s recycled water is treated to Class A standard, with further treatment to remove salt to make it safe for the elephants and hippos.
The pipeline is an important project to increase the use of recycled water in the Werribee catchment.
To learn more about the pipeline, visit Greater Western Water.
Page last updated: 04/04/25