Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) is a set of sustainable water management principles that can be applied to the planning and design of urban environments. WSUD is a holistic approach to urban development that considers all the natural elements of a site to sustainably manage water and support healthy ecosystems. It aims to minimise the impacts of urbanisation by improving the ability of our urban environments to capture, treat and re-use stormwater before it reaches our waterways.

WSUD seeks to achieve better urban water management outcomes through the integration of urban planning with the management and protection of the natural water cycle. By bringing together stormwater, water supply and sewage management at the development scale, WSUD ensures the optimal use of our water resources at a regional, state and national level.

Through application of WSUD principles, we can protect and enhance the social, cultural, environmental, and economic values of our urban spaces to deliver greener, cooler, more liveable cities with thriving local communities.

Water by Design is working to improve the implementation of WSUD policy and practice through the delivery of best practice resources, activities and on-ground action.

The resources on this site provide tools and guidance to implement best practice Water Sensitive Urban Design have been developed by Water by Design with the support of Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) and the Reef Urban Stormwater Management Group (RUSMG) to improve and protect our waterways and the reef. For further information regarding legislative requirements please visit the Queensland Government website.