Household water use, leaks & conservation

Information on saving water, smart water metres and water restrictions. Read more on the management of water in the Cairns region.

Water sources

Sources & supply

Information about water sources and water supply in the Cairns region, including Copperlode Falls Dam, Lake Morris, Behana Creek, Council's Water Treatment Plants.

Water strategy

Water strategies & projects

Council's Water unit delivers quality and reliable water, and wastewater services that meet the needs of our community in a financially and environmentally sustainable manner.

Cairns Water Supply: FAQs

Information on Cairns water supply and the maintenance on reservoirs. Read more on the infrastructure in the Cairns region.

Treatment plant

Wastewater management

Cairns Regional Council operates 182 sewer pump stations and six wastewater treatment plants across the region.

CWSS1 WTP Concept Visualisation

Cairns Water Security Stage 1 Project

Cairns Water Security Stage 1 - a new drinking water supply for Cairns.

Water lab

Laboratory services

The council laboratory offers a range of services to industry and the community, comprising of both chemical and microbiological laboratories.

Waste Education

Water education

Smarter with our water: Council provides a range of free, online water education resources for children of all ages.

Bin it, don't flush it

Sinks, drains & toilets

Everything you flush down the toilet or pour down the drain goes through our sewerage systems. Think before you flush and keep our pipes clean.

Last Updated: 10 October 2025

Latest News > All News

Council invests $8.9M in wastewater upgrades

Reliable wastewater infrastructure is essential for public health, environmental protection and the continued delivery of services to the Cairns community....

Council Projects & Services
30 July 2026

Cairns delivers best value for ratepayers

New benchmarking data has confirmed Cairns’ residents continue to receive some of the most competitively priced rates and utility charges...

Business & Economy
29 July 2026

King tides expected in Cairns this week

King tides are expected to affect Cairns this week, starting from Tuesday 28 July to Thursday 30 July....

General Updates
28 July 2026