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Do you need a licence?

There is a legal requirement to obtain a water licence if you intend to provide:

  • water supply services for potable and non-potable water
  • Sewerage service
  • Irrigation service (for irrigation for agriculture or pasture) or
  • Drainage service (management of stormwater, groundwater, surface water or soil salinity, which may include managing the quality of the water).

The requirement for a water licence is established by the Water Services Act 2012.

If you wish to apply for a licence, please refer to our Licence Application Guideline and contact us.

Activities that do not require a water licence

Activities that fall outside of the scope of the law include:

  • Self-supply of water services
  • Sale of water by means of other water services works such as transporting water or sewage by cart, truck or tanker and
  • Where a person is simply an intermediary through whom the service is actually provided by a third party (e.g. a shopping centre where water is delivered to individual tenants).

Exemptions from holding a water licence

A person may be exempted from the requirement to hold a water licence. For further information on the types of activities that may be eligible for an exemption application contact the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation Opens in new window.
Page last updated: 06 Sep 2018