Melbourne is facing an urgent water crisis. The city is almost completely dependent on the Yarra and Thomson Rivers for its water supply, and yet inflows to our reservoirs have declined dramatically over the last decade. Unsustainable extraction of water from our rivers over many years has left them stressed and degraded, and reduced Melbourne’s capacity to cope with the extra pressures caused by a growing population, drought and climate change. And yet this crisis also provides an opportunity to fundamentally re-think our attitudes to water and the value we place on healthy rivers. In tackling its urgent problems, Melbourne has an opportunity to take an important step towards becoming what academics have coined a “water sensitive city” by re-thinking the way we source, use and dispose of this precious resource. Environment Victoria’s Vision for Melbourne plan Secure Water, Healthy Rivers demonstrates how the city’s short-term needs can be met using alternative water supplies such as recycled water, so as to return flows to our rivers and ‘buy time’ to implement a diverse portfolio of sustainable, decentralised water solutions. Importantly, a water-sensitive city also comprises “water sensitive communities” who provide the social capital for positive water-saving decision-making and behaviours.