A Melbourne Water survey has found 29per cent of respondents living in the Maribyrnong river catchment walk, jog or run as their main reason for visiting a waterway.

Family outings were the next most popular reason (26per cent of respondents), followed by relaxation (15per cent) and dog walking (13per cent).

The social research of 15,000 people across Greater Melbourne also revealed that in the Maribyrnong catchment:

■20 per cent of people visited a waterway on a monthly basis, 17per cent once a week and 17per cent every three months.

■33per cent of respondents stayed at a waterway for one to two hours, with 31per cent of visitors staying from 30 minutes to one hour.

General manager of waterways, Chris Chesterfield, said that of the 84,000 kilometres of rivers and creeks in the Greater Melbourne area, 12,777 kilometres were in the Maribyrnong catchment.

"We invest a lot of time and effort to look after our waterways and the plants and animals that live in them, but the social value of the waterways is equally important," Mr Chesterfield said. "Rivers and creeks are the backdrop to lots of recreational activities, such as walking the dog and riding a bike, and are an important part of Melbourne's liveability."