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Government of Western Australia Department of Water and Environmental Regulation
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Finding water Finding Water

Finding new water resources, including Royalties for Regions-funded programs and other drilling programs to explore resources across the state.

Water allocation plans Photo from consultation for the Gingin groundwater allocation plan

Information about allocation plans, which set out how much water can be reliably taken from groundwater and surface water sources for productive purposes while ensuring the sustainability of the resource and protection of the water-dependent environment.

Meeting demand 1.3.1 Crop irrigation

Information about ensuring sustainable water supplies for the state’s population and industries, including the Water for Growth and Water for Food programs.

Rural water support Rural Assistance

Click here to apply for rebates and grants for farmers, pastoralists and rural communities to improve local water supplies and for information about assistance to help farmers access water during dry seasons.

Flood planning and mapping Meeting demand

Information, advice and management of flood plans based on flood behaviour research and floodplain mapping for the state's major rivers.

Water and land use planning Narrows Bridge

Integrated water and land use planning based on the principles of total water cycle management.

Innovation

The Department of Water invites you to share your ideas on creating innovative solutions to water challenges.

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Water licensing Water Licensing

Licences and how to apply, licensing policies, forms to download and answers to questions frequently asked by current and prospective licensees.

Water trading Water Trading

Find out who is eligible to trade water entitlements and how applications are assessed. Click here to identify potential trading partners from the Water Register.

Metering and measurement

Metering and measuring the water you take helps you understand your water usage to make the most of your entitlements and reduce your overall costs.

Water licensing fees

New fees for water licence and permit applications are being introduced to the mining and public water supply sectors from the 13 November 2018, post

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Current legislation Current Legislation

Current legislation for which the Department of Water assists the Minister for Water. Click here for current WA legislation.

Water reform

We are updating our policy and legislation to deliver water resource management legislation that is flexible, progressive and capable of managing water today and in the future.

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Water services Water Services

Legislation and policy for Western Australia’s water service providers.

Urban development Urban Development

Planning and managing water to enable growing, liveable water smart towns and cities.

Drinking water Mundaring Weir

Protecting and managing public drinking water source areas including policies relating to public drinking water source areas, water source protection plans, water quality strategies and management and review processes.

Recycling and efficiency Recycling

Information about wastewater recycling, water efficiencies and the use of fit-for-purpose water. Recycling is encouraged whenever it is socially, economically and environmentally acceptable to make smart use of waste water for the ongoing development of the State.

Bores Domestic Garden Watering

Garden bores are small domestic groundwater bores for private garden irrigation. Click here for more information about your garden bore, licence exemptions and being ‘bore water-wise’ in your garden.

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Groundwater Ground Water

Information on the state’s groundwater resources, locations, investigations, aquifer recharge and sustainable management of water resources, including an overview of state groundwater investigations.

Surface water Surface Water

Surface water, like rivers and streams used for public water supply, self-supply, irrigation, recreation and hydropower and rainfall and streamflow monitoring, catchment modelling and flood studies to manage surface water.

Water quality Water Quality

Click here for information about water quality, including public drinking water source areas, salinity, brochures, fact sheets and best management practices for various land uses and activities to help protect water quality and public health.

Waterways Rivers and Estuaries

Rivers and estuaries and their importance including information on monitoring and assessing waterways, protecting, understanding, planning, restoring, and risks and threats.

Estuaries

There are 166 estuaries in Western Australia as established through the National Land and Water Resources Audit (NLWRA) 2000, where an estuary is defined as

Irrigation Irrigation

Click here for information on types of irrigators, licenses and the role of irrigation as an economic enabler for industry.

Onshore petroleum and water resources 5.6 Shale_and_tight_gas.jpg

Information on the department’s role in relation to the shale and tight gas industry.

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Maps Maps

A detailed collection of online atlases and maps with information on the State’s water resources, including depth to groundwater, garden bore suitability, geology and proclaimed management areas.

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Information and reports collected from the department's extensive State-wide monitoring network, which are provided free for water management, state development and research purposes.

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Water services

What is a water service?

A water service is the provision of any of the following services through reticulated piping, conduits and approved infrastructure.

The services include:

  • Water supply service – supply of potable or non-potable water
  • Sewerage service – collection, treatment and disposal of sewage
  • Irrigation service – provision of water for irrigation for agriculture or pasture
  • Drainage service – management of stormwater, groundwater, surface water or soil salinity, which may include managing the quality of the water

Why are water services licensed?

The main reason for licensing is to promote and create an effective, efficient and sustainable water services industry. It also exists to prevent water service providers from abusing their power and making sure customers are provided with good quality services.

The licensing scheme also sets out minimum service and technical standards and requires the monitoring of asset management practices.

It also ensures that industry participants have the financial and technical capacity necessary to provide water services.

Do I need a water service licence?

You will require a water service licence, or an exemption under the Act, to provide a water service (water supply, sewerage, irrigation or drainage) in Western Australia.

Activities that do not require a water service licence

Some activities that do not require a licence are:

  • Self-supply where a person provides water to themselves within the boundaries of a single lot to a single dwelling (e.g. rainwater tanks, single-lot recycled water systems, private bores, farms)
  • Transporting water or sewage by cart, truck or tanker
  • Where a water service is provided to a party through an intermediary (e.g. a shopping centre where water is delivered to individual tenants)
  • Mine dewatering (excluding situations where mine dewater is on-supplied to other parties);
  • Geothermal water supply services, where water is supplied for heating and/or cooling and is then returned to the point of supply.

Water servicing licensing and exemptions

The management and equitable sharing of water is one of our highest priorities.

In Western Australia, water services are regulated under the Water Services Act 2012 (the Act).

Under this Act, water utilities are regulated by the Economic Regulation Authority through licensing, however exemptions from licensing may be granted by the Minster for Water.

The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation issues other types of licences for taking water under the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 and to clear native vegetation under the Country Areas Water Supply Act 1947.

Water service licence exemptions

Exemptions from water service licensing may be granted by the Minister in circumstances where the exemption is not contrary to the public interest, such as where the cost of meeting licence requirements is greater than the benefit provided to the public by licensing.

This could be because there are a limited number of customers for whom the quality of service and price are set in contract. Reasons for the Minister's decision are given to the exemption applicant and on request to any other person.

An exemption may also be granted subject to conditions, such as the water service provider providing regular reports on asset maintenance, or that a works management system be established.

Exemptions may be revoked by the Minister, if it is in the public interest to do so.

Exemptions are published in the Western Australian Government Gazette, with a list of current and expired licence exemptions dating from 1995, with links to the Government Gazette publication on the State Law Publisher website.

How to apply for a water service licence

The Economic Regulation Authority (ERA) is responsible for licensing and monitoring the performance of water service providers.

How to apply for a water service licence exemption

Applications for an exemption should be made in writing to:

Manager Water Industry Policy
Water Industry Policy
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation
Locked Bag 10
Joondalup DC
JOONDALUP WA 6919

Email: water.industry.policy@water.wa.gov.au

How are applications assessed?

In assessing an application for a water service licence exemption, the department considers a range of public interest criteria.

Applicants should provide information on the following matters to assist with the public interest assessment:

  • Environmental considerations, including the value of ecologically sustainable development
  • Information on the source of water supply, treatment method, infrastructure details
  • Relevant licences and approvals obtained from the Department of Water and Environment Regulation
  • Relevant reporting requirements
  • Public health considerations in relation to the provision of reliable water services
  • Relevant approvals obtained from the Department of Health.
  • Reporting mechanisms in place
  • Social welfare and equity considerations, including community service obligations
  • Is the scheme a not-for-profit service?
  • Details on charging of water
  • Is there government funding provided in servicing this scheme?
  • Economic and regional development, including employment and investment growth
  • Benefits to the community as a result of the water supply
  • Interests of water services customers generally or of a class of water services customers
  • Details on the customers and supply arrangements
  • Evidence of any agreements with customers
  • Interests of any other licensee, or applicant for a licence, to which the exemption order, if made, would apply
    - Are there any other water service providers in the area?
    - Number of customers and volume of water supplied per year
    - Any plans to increase the number of customers and volume of water supplied
    - Any other relevant matters?

Further information

water.industry.policy@water.wa.gov.au.

Page last updated - 15 Jan 2018
Water Services


Exemptions

Email water.industry.policy@water.wa.gov.au

Applications

Economic Regulation Authority

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The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation was established by the Government of Western Australia on 1 July 2017. It is a result of the amalgamation of the Department of Environment Regulation, Department of Water and the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority. This website/publication may contain references to previous government departments and programs. Please contact the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation to clarify any specific information.

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