compared with past years. Infrastructure The water supply system operated and managed by Melbourne Water comprises: catchments covering more than 140,000 hectares. ten major storage reservoirs with a capacity of 1,810,500 megalitres. 64 service reservoirs that provide short-term storage. about 1300 kilometres of distribution mains and aqueducts. 18 water pumping stations, used to pump water from low-lying areas to higher areas. five water filtration plants. 49 water treatment (disinfection) plants. Water storages Melbourne Water manages the ten Melbourne reservoirs. The total storage capacity is 1,810,500 megalitres. Water supply catchments Around 80% of Melbourne's water is sourced from uninhabited forests in the Yarra Ranges and Central Highlands. In excess of 1,570 square kilometres is reserved for water catchment. These forests primarily consist of Mountain Ash. Catchment areas have been closed to the public for over 100 years . In addition to the reservoirs in the table above, water is harvested via a number of diversion weirs: Clearfell logging is permitted in the Yarra Tributaries and Thomson catchment areas. Some studies claims this reduces Melbourne's water supply arguing that young regrowth forest uses more water than existing forest Some environmental groups claim that up to 30 thousand megalitres of water could be saved per annum by phasing out logging. This represents 6% of Melbourne's annual usage. See also Water management in Victoria Lakes and Reservoirs in Melbourne List of reservoirs and dams in Australia Western Treatment Plant Eastern Treatment Plant Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council External links Melbourne Water Yarra Valley Water South East Water City West Water Victorian Water Industry Association (VicWater) References Organisations based in Melbourne Water companies of Victoria (Australia) 1992 establishments in Australia Government agencies established in 1992