How to keep safe around our Upper Canal

Working with south-west Sydney communities

Local communities can help protect Sydney’s drinking water

Residents in south-west Sydney are being encouraged to keep an eye on WaterNSW’s Upper Canal to help protect Sydney’s drinking water, and to keep local children safe.

“Many local residents are not aware that the open canal that may be just over your back fence, or at the end of your street, supplies up to 20% of Sydney’s drinking water,” WaterNSW Catchment Compliance Manager, Ivan Draper, said.

“WaterNSW looks after the Upper Canal – and we are calling on the local community to help to keep our water safe.”

The Upper Canal delivers water from four dams south of Sydney to Prospect Reservoir where it is treated along with water from Warragamba Dam to supply Greater Sydney’s drinking water.

“We work closely with local councils and other authorities to monitor building sites, because if soil, sand, dirt and mud are not properly managed on site, this sediment is washed into gutters, stormwater drains and waterways causing pollution and environmental problems,” Ivan said

Upper Canal near housing estate
The Upper Canal is a series of tunnels and mostly open canals that moves water from Cataract, Cordeaux, Avon and Nepean dams south of Sydney to Prospect Reservoir.
Upper Canal in suburbia
As urban development continues to in-fill what was once mostly farmland in south-west Sydney, the Upper Canal is increasingly surrounded by houses and industry.

If you live here we need your help….

The Upper Canal flows through the Sydney suburbs of:

  • Kemps Creek
  • Austral
  • Leppington
  • Denham Court
  • Emerald Hills
  • Gledswood Hills
  • Gregory Hills
  • Currans Hill
  • Mount Annan
  • Glen Alpine

“If you live, work or regularly travel through any of the suburbs the canal flows through, we need your help to keep a watch out for pollution entering the canal, and to help keep children safe,” Ivan said.

“If you see dirty water from a building site or a backyard running into the Upper Canal – please call our incident reporting line on 1800 061 069.

“If you see someone inside the canal fence – or in the water – report them. It’s illegal, and unsafe," Ivan said.

The maximum penalty for offences within a Controlled Area is $44,000 - with fines exceeding $1,000 for simply entering the area.

Engineering masterpiece ahead of its time

The Upper Canal has operated continuously since 1888. As urban development continues to in-fill what was once mostly farmland in south-west Sydney, the canal is increasingly surrounded by houses and industry.

Environmentally sustainable ahead of its time, the Upper Canal uses no energy as water flows by gravity alone from the Illawarra Plateau south of Sydney through a series of open canals (44km), tunnels (19km) and aqueducts (1km) to Prospect Reservoir.

Learn more about the history and features of the Upper Canal.

Cataract Dam
Cataract Dam is one of four dams on the Illawarra Plateau south of Sydney that supplies 20% of Sydney's water delivered via the Upper Canal.
Prospect Reservoir
The Upper Canal uses no energy as water flows by gravity alone from the Illawarra Plateau to Prospect Reservoir along a series of open canals (44km), tunnels (19km) and aqueducts (1km).

Related links

Upper Canal

Managing dams and reservoirs

In the flow

Published date: 31 July 2023

WaterNSW acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands and waters on which we work and pay our respects to all elders past, present and emerging. Learn more