Beyond Integrated Water Management to Unlock Funding
Water underpins every aspect of regional prosperity, from health, economic growth, infrastructure, industry, and environmental sustainability. While Integrated Water Management (IWM) has improved coordination of stormwater, catchments, and water supply, critical gaps remain in health, Indigenous equity, new developments, social outcomes, industrial use, and energy. These sectors remain disconnected from strategic water planning, missing opportunities for investment and regional impact.
The next wave of innovation in water management isn’t just better coordination within the water sector or expanding the grid or technological advancements, it’s about cross-sector integration. Agencies that engage non-traditional partners to tackle regional water challenges are the ones securing transformational investment.
Why Traditional IWM is Not Enough
Current IWM frameworks bring together key agencies to manage water resources more holistically, yet many critical sectors remain siloed:
- Health & Water – Public health agencies focus on drinking water safety but are rarely involved in broader discussions about industrial runoff, urban cooling, or disaster resilience.
- Urban Growth & Water – New housing and industrial developments demand long-term water security, but planning approvals often fail to integrate sustainable water reuse, efficiency, and infrastructure.
- Industry & Water – Industries operate independently, even when shared water infrastructure or circular water use could reduce costs and improve sustainability.
- Energy & Water – Renewable energy projects (solar, hydrogen, pumped hydro) and traditional power plants depend heavily on water, yet they rarely align with regional water strategies.
While these disconnects create inefficiencies, they also open new funding opportunities. The solution? Non-traditional partnerships that deliver broad regional benefits, these projects demonstrate greater impact, lower risk, and attract multi-source investment.
Why Integration Attracts Investment
Government funders typically don’t fund business-as-usual operations. However, given water’s multidimensional role across industries, projects that solve multiple problems at once are far more attractive. Agencies that collaborate across sectors and align with multiple funding priorities significantly increase their likelihood of securing investment.
- Greater Regional Impact = More Investment – A project that enhances water security, industry resilience, and disaster preparedness is more fundable than one with a single focus.
- More Stakeholders = More Commitment – Projects with diverse partnerships demonstrate broad support, making them lower risk for funders.
- Early Engagement = Smoother Approvals – Engaging the right stakeholders upfront reduces delays, objections, and unexpected costs down the track.
- Funding Diversity = Long-Term Success – Integrated projects can tap into environmental, infrastructure, industry, and social funding streams, making them financially sustainable.
At Grantus, we secure investment by positioning projects beyond business-as-usual, aligning them with larger regional priorities to attract high-value funding.
Case Study: Expanding Water Investment Through Multi-Sector Collaboration
When Coliban Water needed to address its ageing rural infrastructure, they took a multi-sector, future-focused approach:
- Using climate predictions to support drought-proofing and water supply resilience.
- Ensuring efficient water supply to benefit customers and support long-term regional sustainability.
- Exploring alternative water supply options (recycled, drinking, raw water) to support agriculture, industry, and recreation.
- Bringing together government, industry, and community partners to streamline approvals and de-risk investment.
By positioning their project as a multi-sector, multi-benefit initiative, they successfully secured:
- $375,000 for a feasibility study,
- Business case funding,
- And now progressing toward large-scale investment—integrating customers, supply options, and partners to solve multiple regional challenges simultaneously.
This approach demonstrates how integrated water planning leads to larger, more sustainable investments.
Key Takeaways for Water Corporations Seeking Investment
If you’re looking to secure funding for a water-related project, focus on:
- Integrating Non-Traditional Partners – Involve health, industry, urban planning, and energy stakeholders to broaden project impact.
- Framing Projects for Multi-Sector Benefits – Demonstrate how your project supports industry, public health, disaster resilience, and economic growth.
- Engaging Early to Reduce Risk – Collaborate with key decision-makers upfront to smooth out approvals and limit future costs.
- Leveraging Multiple Funding Streams – Tap into grants, co-funding, and private investment beyond traditional water sector sources.
Final Thought: Water Management is Investment Management
Water is a core economic, environmental, and public health challenge. The most successful funding strategies go beyond securing grants and position water as a high-value regional investment that drives economic growth, resilience, and sustainability.
Looking to unlock high-value funding for your water projects? Let’s talk. Grantus specialises in aligning strategy, investment, and governance to secure transformational funding.
Simon Coutts
Simon is the Director and Founder of Grantus, a trusted advisor in strategic funding, complex problem solving, and stakeholder management, driving growth and public benefit for organisations dedicated to making a lasting impact. Book a ‘Borrow My Brain‘ session with Simon.
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