Water quality

Drinking water supplied by Barwon Water must meet the obligations under the Safe Drinking Water Act 2003 and Safe Drinking Water Regulations (2005).

The Safe Drinking Water Act 2003 is the principal legislation applicable to the quality of drinking water supplied by Barwon Water. The Act:

• requires Barwon Water prepare and implement plans to manage risks in relation to drinking water and some types of non-potable water
• provides for the auditing of those plans by approved auditors
• requires Barwon Water ensure the drinking water supplied meets quality standards specified by regulations
• requires water suppliers disclose to the public information concerning the quality of drinking water
• provides for the variation, after community consultation, of water quality standards that relate only to aesthetic factors
• requires the reporting of known or suspected contamination of drinking water to the Secretary to the Department of Human Services
• empowers the Secretary to enforce this Act.

(Further details can be obtained from the Department of Human Services Victoria website ).

To ensure our customers are provided with safe drinking water Barwon Water maintains a HACCP-based* drinking water quality management system covering the entire water supply system from catchment to the customer's tap.

This system entails:

• detailed water quality risk identification processes
• audited control measures to manage the risks
• verification systems, including an independent monitoring program covering the entire system
• water quality performance reporting to the public
• continuous improvement projects to further increase the systems capabilities.

Supply-By-Agreement customers

The supply of water is subject to the conditions of a Water Supply Agreement. Refer to your individual Agreement for terms and conditions. W1 and W2 Supply-By-Agreement customers are guaranteed a potable supply in accordance with the obligations in the Safe Drinking Water Act 2003. The water supplied to W3 and W4 Supply-By-Agreement customers is untreated and is not intended for human consumption or for purposes connected with human consumption, such as the preparation of food or the making of ice for consumption or for the preservation of unpackaged food.

* The HACCP system (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) is a food safety system endorsed by the World Health Organisation and independently audited by SAI Global Pty Ltd.

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