Part 3—Water sampling areas and water sampling programs 15
11 Water sampling area 15
12 Variation of water sampling area 16
13 Directions by Secretary for water sampling area 17
14 Development of water sampling program—water supplier 18
15 Development of water sampling program—water storage manager 20
Part 4—Drinking water quality standards 22
16 Drinking water quality standards 22
17 Frequency of collecting drinking water samples 24
18 Secretary may determine frequency for collecting drinking water samples 24
19 Analysis of drinking water samples 25
20 Requirement to give analysis results to Secretary 26
Part 5—Other matters 29
21 Additional details to be included in a water supplier's annual report 29
22 Additional details to be included in a water storage manager's annual report 32
23 Infringement offences and infringement penalties 33
Schedule 1—Risk management plan audit certificate 34
Schedule 2—Aesthetic quality standards—other chemical or physical characteristics 35
Schedule 3—Infringements 37
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Endnotes 38
1 General information 38
2 Table of Amendments 40
3 Explanatory details 41
Version No.001
Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2025
S.R. No. 60/2025
Version as at
6 July 2025
Part 1—Preliminary
1 Objective
The objective of these Regulations is to provide further for the supply of safe drinking water by—
(a) setting out further matters to be addressed in risk management plans and the risks to be addressed in those plans; and
(b) specifying the documents to be made available for inspection in a risk management plan audit; and
(c) prescribing drinking water quality standards; and
(d) specifying the issues relating to the quality of drinking water and regulated water that are to be dealt with by a water supplier and water storage manager in an annual report; and
(e) providing for other matters required to be prescribed under the Safe Drinking Water Act 2003.
2 Authorising provision
These Regulations are made under section 56 of the Safe Drinking Water Act 2003.
3 Commencement
These Regulations come into operation on 6 July 2025.
4 Revocation
The Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2015[1] are revoked.
5 Definitions
In these Regulations—
accredited testing organisation means an organisation that holds accreditation from NATA in relation to testing potable water for characteristics specified in a water supplier's water sampling program;
Australian Drinking Water Guidelines means the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines published by the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council, as in force from time to time;
critical control point, in relation to water supplied by a water agency, means a point in the system of supply at which—
(a) an action, procedure or process can be applied to the water; and
(b) the effective operation of that action, procedure or process is essential to prevent a hazard to human health or to reduce the hazard to an acceptable level;
critical limit, in relation to an action, procedure or process that is applied to water at a critical control point, means the limit at which the action, procedure or process ceases to operate effectively;
drinking water treatment process means a process that is—
(a) applied to water that is, or is to be, supplied as drinking water; and
(b) designed to render the water suitable for supply as drinking water; and
(c) applied with the intention of rendering the water suitable for supply as drinking water;
emergency has the same meaning as in the Emergency Management Act 2013;
emergency management has the same meaning as in the Emergency Management Act 2013;
hazard means a biological, chemical, physical or radiological agent that has the potential to cause harm;
microbial health outcome target means the microbial health-based target specified in Section 1.3 of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines;
Note
The microbial health-based target specified in Section 1.3 of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines as in force on the commencement of these Regulations is 1 x 10-6 Disability Adjusted Life Years per person per year.
NATA means National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia, ACN 004 379 748;
new water sampling area means a water sampling area other than an area referred to in regulation 11(2);
reportable log reduction shortfall, in relation to a source water category, means a log reduction value that is at least one log reduction value below a treatment target for that source water category;
sample characteristic means a microbial, chemical or physical characteristic of drinking water for which a drinking water quality standard is specified;
Note
The drinking water quality standards are specified in regulation 16 for the purposes of section 17(1) of the Act.
source water category means a category for a source of water specified in Table 5.4 of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines;
the Act means the Safe Drinking Water Act 2003;
treatment target, in relation to a source water category, means a target specified for that category in Table 5.5 of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines;
water agency means a water storage manager or a water supplier;
water sampling area means an area specified under regulation 11;
water sampling program means a program developed under regulation 14 or 15.
Part 2—Management of risks to water supply
6 Risk management plan
(1) For the purposes of section 9(1)(e) of the Act, a risk management plan must contain details of, or refer to, the following matters—
(a) on and from 6 October 2025, the water agency's policy for managing drinking water quality, including—
(i) a statement of the water agency's commitment to manage the quality of the water supplied by the water agency; and
(ii) how the water agency has endorsed that commitment; and
(iii) how the commitment is communicated to the water agency's employees;
(b) for a risk management plan prepared by a water supplier, each water sampling area specified by the water supplier, including—
(i) a clearly marked map of the boundaries of each water sampling area; and
(ii) all information reasonably available to the water supplier that assists to identify the boundaries of each water sampling area; and
(iii) for a new water sampling area or a water sampling area varied under regulation 12—
(A) how the boundaries of that water sampling area have been determined; and
(B) how the matters specified in regulation 11(3) or 12(2) (as the case requires) were considered in determining the boundaries of that water sampling area;
(c) in relation to water quality risks for water supplied by the water agency, the positions held by persons employed or engaged by the water agency who are responsible for managing those risks;
(d) procedures for consultation with other water agencies in relation to water quality risks for water supplied—
(i) to the water agency by other water agencies; and
(ii) by the water agency to other water agencies;
(e) emergency management arrangements for emergencies or incidents that have, or may have, an adverse effect on the quality or safety of water supplied by the water agency, including—
(i) the positions held by persons employed or engaged by the water agency who are responsible for dealing with those emergencies or incidents; and
(ii) methods for communicating information to the public in relation to those emergencies or incidents;
(f) for a risk management plan prepared by a water supplier, the water sampling program developed by the water supplier, including—
(i) the matters specified in regulation 14(2); and
(ii) how the locations for collecting water samples have been determined; and
(iii) how the matters referred to in regulation 14(3), (4) and (5) were considered in developing the program;
(g) for a risk management plan prepared by a water storage manager, the water sampling program developed by the water storage manager, including—
(i) the matters specified in regulation 15(2); and
(ii) how the locations for collecting water samples have been determined;
(h) in circumstances where the water agency adds chemicals to drinking water supplied by the water agency, procedures and systems for—
(i) ensuring that the amount and purity of those chemicals do not adversely affect the quality of that drinking water or pose a risk to human health; and
(ii) controlling the addition of any residue or chemical by‑products to that drinking water;
(i) the required competency and training of persons who are employed or engaged by the water agency, to the extent that the competency or training relates to the monitoring and management of water quality risks for water supplied by the water agency;
(j) any policies, standards and guidelines adopted by the water agency in relation to the required competency and training described in paragraph (i);
(k) the infrastructure of the system of supply and other features of that system that are designed to assist in the management of water quality risks for water supplied by the water agency, including the method for verifying the effectiveness of the infrastructure and other features;
(l) on and from 6 October 2025, the process for inspecting and maintaining water storage, treatment and distribution assets to ensure the management of water quality risks for water supplied by the water agency;
(m) measures taken to monitor and manage water quality risks for water supplied by the water agency, including any methods for verifying the effectiveness of those measures;
(n) critical control points across the system of supply, including—
(i) how those critical control points are identified and recorded; and
(ii) the water quality risks at each critical control point; and
(iii) the critical limits that apply at each critical control point; and
(iv) if a critical limit is reached at a critical control point—
(A) any additional actions, procedures or processes that are to be applied to the water at the critical control point; and
(B) any policies or guidelines that are to be implemented;
(o) on and from 6 October 2025, the process for assessing emerging or potential water quality risks;
(p) on and from 6 October 2025, an improvement plan that specifies how the water agency proposes to improve its management of the quality of the water supplied by the water agency;
(q) on and from 6 October 2025, the processes for the short-term and long-term review of data to monitor water quality risks for water supplied by the water agency.
(2) For the purposes of section 9(1)(e) of the Act, if a water agency operates and maintains a drinking water treatment process that is applied to untreated water, the water agency's risk management plan must contain, for the period from 6 July 2025 to 5 July 2026, details of the methodology that is used by the water agency to quantify microbial hazards in relation to that water, including—
(a) the extent to which pathogenic microorganisms are present in water that enters the drinking water treatment process; and
(b) the extent to which that drinking water treatment process—
(i) removes those pathogenic microorganisms from the water; or
(ii) reduces the amount of those pathogenic microorganisms in the water.
(3) For the purposes of section 9(1)(e) of the Act, if a water agency manages a source of untreated water that is to be treated and supplied as drinking water, the water agency's risk management plan must contain details of the following matters on and from 6 July 2026—
(a) the process for determining a source water category for that source of untreated water in accordance with Section 5.4.3 of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines;
(b) procedures for reviewing and revising the source water category for that source of untreated water.
(4) For the purposes of section 9(1)(e) of the Act, if a water agency applies a drinking water treatment process to untreated water, the water agency's risk management plan must contain details of the following matters on and from 6 July 2026—
(a) procedures for assessing the treatment required to be applied to the untreated water, based on its source water category, for that water to meet the microbial health outcome target;
(b) procedures for designing and monitoring the drinking water treatment process to ensure that the water to which the process is applied meets the treatment targets for the source water category of that water;
(c) procedures for recording the effectiveness of the drinking water treatment process in treating the water to meet—
(i) the microbial health outcome target; and
(ii) the treatment targets for the source water category of that water;
(d) if the water to which the drinking water treatment process is applied does not meet the targets referred to in paragraph (c), procedures for implementing improvements to ensure that the water meets those targets.
(5) For the purposes of section 9(2) of the Act, the specified risks to be addressed are the following—
(a) the risk to human health that arises from the presence in water of—
(i) pathogenic microorganisms; and
(ii) inorganic chemicals, including inorganic disinfection by-products; and
(iii) organic chemicals, including pesticides, pesticide residues and organic disinfection by-products; and
(iv) radionuclides; and
(v) algal toxins;
(b) the risks arising from an incident that may cause the organisms or substances referred to in paragraph (a) to be introduced, whether by humans or the natural environment, into—
(i) in the case of a water supplier, the water supplier's system of supply; or
(ii) in the case of a water storage manager, the water supplied by the water storage manager;
(c) the risk of the organisms or substances referred to in paragraph (a) entering into water supplied by the water agency because of the transfer or distribution of that water;
(d) on and from 6 January 2027, the risk to the taste, odour or clarity of water that arises from—
(i) the presence in water of an algal metabolite, a chemical or any other substance; and
(ii) the pH or turbidity level of the water; and
(iii) the colour or temperature of the water; and
(iv) an incident that may cause an algal metabolite, a chemical or any other substance to be introduced, whether by humans or the natural environment, into—
(A) in the case of a water supplier, the water supplier's system of supply; or
(B) in the case of a water storage manager, the water supplied by the water storage manager; and
(v) an algal metabolite, a chemical or any other substance entering into water supplied by the water agency because of the transfer or distribution of that water.
(6) In this regulation—
water quality risk, in relation to water supplied by a water agency, includes—
(a) a risk referred to in section 9(1)(b) of the Act; and
(b) a risk that is specified for the purposes of section 9(2) of the Act.
Note
Section 9(1)(b) of the Act provides for a risk management plan to identify the risks to the quality of the water supplied by the water agency and the risks that may be posed by the quality of the water. Subregulation (5) specifies risks to be addressed in a risk management plan for the purposes of section 9(2) of the Act.
7 Risk management plan audit
For the purposes of section 10(2) of the Act, the specified documents are—
(a) the risk management plan; and
(b) any document referred to in the risk management plan or containing material that relates to the risk management plan; and
(c) any document that records or provides evidence of the implementation of the risk management plan.
8 Audit certificate
For the purposes of section 12(2) of the Act, the form of the certificate is set out in Schedule 1.
9 Approval of risk management plan auditors
For the purposes of section 13(2) of the Act, the auditor approval criteria are that the person—
(a) either—
(i) holds an accreditation from an institution which, in the opinion of the Secretary, makes the person suitable for approval as a risk management plan auditor; or
(ii) demonstrates to the Secretary that the person has the necessary experience, qualifications and skills to conduct audits of risk management plans independently; and
(b) is, in the reasonable opinion of the Secretary, a suitable person to be approved as an auditor; and
(c) provides to the Secretary a written declaration that the person has no conflict of interest that would affect the person's ability to conduct an audit of a risk management plan objectively.
10 Reportable log reduction shortfalls
(1) On and from 6 July 2026, if a water agency becomes aware that the application of a drinking water treatment process to a source of untreated water has produced, or will produce, a reportable log reduction shortfall for the source water category of that water, the water agency must notify the Secretary in writing within 10 days after becoming aware of that shortfall.
(2) A notification under subregulation (1) must specify—
(a) details of the operation of the drinking water treatment process; and
(b) the actions that the water agency has taken, or proposes to take, to address the reportable log reduction shortfall.
Part 3—Water sampling areas and water sampling programs
11 Water sampling area
(1) A water supplier must specify an area that is supplied with drinking water by the water supplier to be a water sampling area for the purposes of the water supplier's risk management plan.
(2) An area supplied with drinking water by a water supplier that is specified to be a water sampling locality under the Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2015 immediately before their revocation is, on and from that revocation, a water sampling area for the purposes of the water supplier's risk management plan as if the water supplier had specified that area to be a water sampling area under subregulation (1).
(3) If a water supplier specifies a new water sampling area for the purposes of the water supplier's risk management plan, the water supplier must consider the following matters in determining the boundaries of that new water sampling area—
(a) the source or sources of the water that will be supplied as drinking water in the water sampling area;
(b) the drinking water treatment processes to be applied to water that will be supplied as drinking water in the water sampling area;
(c) the distribution system that will be used to supply drinking water in the water sampling area.
(4) Within 10 days after a water supplier specifies a new water sampling area for the purposes of the water supplier's risk management plan, the water supplier must—
(a) give written notice to the Secretary of the new water sampling area, including—
(i) how the boundaries of the new water sampling area have been determined; and
(ii) how the matters specified in subregulation (3) were considered in determining the boundaries of the new water sampling area; and
(iii) a clearly marked map of the boundaries of the new water sampling area; and
(iv) all information reasonably available to the water supplier that assists to identify the boundaries of the new water sampling area; and
(b) update the water supplier's risk management plan to specify details of the new water sampling area.
12 Variation of water sampling area
(1) A water supplier may vary the boundaries of a water sampling area specified in the water supplier's risk management plan.
(2) In varying the boundaries of a water sampling area, a water supplier must consider—
(a) the source or sources of the water that will be supplied as drinking water in the water sampling area; and
(b) the drinking water treatment processes to be applied to water that will be supplied as drinking water in the water sampling area; and
(c) the distribution system that will be used to supply drinking water in the water sampling area.
(3) Within 10 days after a water supplier varies the boundaries of a water sampling area, the water supplier must—
(a) give written notice to the Secretary of that variation, including—
(i) how the boundaries of the water sampling area have been varied; and
(ii) how the matters specified in subregulation (2) were considered in varying the boundaries of the water sampling area; and
(iii) a clearly marked map of the boundaries of the varied water sampling area; and
(iv) all information reasonably available to the water supplier that assists to identify the boundaries of the varied water sampling area; and
(b) update the details of the water sampling area specified in the water supplier's risk management plan.
13 Directions by Secretary for water sampling area
(1) If the Secretary believes that water samples collected at a water sampling area specified in a water supplier's risk management plan do not, or will not, represent the drinking water supplied by the water supplier to the public, the Secretary may direct the water supplier to do one or more of the following—
(a) vary the boundaries of that area and any associated water sampling area;
(b) specify a new water sampling area for the purposes of the water supplier's risk management plan.
(2) If the Secretary believes that a water supplier is supplying drinking water to an area (an additional area) that is not specified as a water sampling area for the purposes of the water supplier's risk management plan, the Secretary may direct the water supplier to do one or more of the following—
(a) vary the boundaries of one or more water sampling areas specified in the water supplier's risk management plan to ensure the additional area is specified as a water sampling area;
(b) specify the additional area as a new water sampling area for the purposes of the water supplier's risk management plan.
(3) A direction under subregulation (1) or (2) must—
(a) be in writing; and
(b) describe how the boundaries of the new water sampling area or the varied water sampling area (as the case requires) are to be determined.
(4) A water supplier who is given a direction under subregulation (1) or (2) must comply with that direction.
14 Development of water sampling program—water supplier
(1) For the purposes of monitoring drinking water quality, a water supplier must develop a program for collecting and analysing water samples from the drinking water and regulated water supplied by the water supplier to the public.
(2) A water sampling program developed by a water supplier must specify—
(a) locations at which water samples will be collected within each water sampling area specified in the water supplier's risk management plan; and
(b) how frequently water samples will be collected at those locations, which must include—
(i) at least once per week in each water sampling area for a water sample that is tested for Escherichia coli; and
(ii) at least once per month in each water sampling area for a water sample that is tested for total trihalomethanes; and
(iii) at least once per month in each water sampling area for a water sample that is tested for its pH level; and
(iv) at least once per week in each water sampling area for a water sample that is tested for its turbidity level; and
(c) the characteristics for which water samples will be tested; and
(d) how frequently water samples will be tested.
(3) In determining the locations to be specified under subregulation (2)(a), the water supplier must ensure that the samples collected at those locations will represent the drinking water supplied to the public from each water sampling area specified in the water supplier's risk management plan.
(4) In determining the collection frequency to be specified under subregulation (2)(b), the water supplier must ensure that a sufficient number of samples are collected during the period of supply that will represent, so far as practicable, the drinking water supplied by the water supplier to the public during that period.
(5) In determining the characteristics to be specified under subregulation (2)(c) and the testing frequency to be specified under subregulation (2)(d), the water supplier must consider—
(a) how the characteristics and testing frequency will assist the water supplier to monitor its compliance with the drinking water quality standards; and
(b) any chemicals or other substances that will be used to treat drinking water supplied to the public in each water sampling area specified in the water supplier's risk management plan.
15 Development of water sampling program—water storage manager
(1) For the purposes of monitoring water quality, a water storage manager must develop a program for collecting and analysing water samples from the water supplied by the water storage manager to a water supplier.
(2) A water sampling program developed by a water storage manager must specify—
(a) locations at which water samples will be collected; and
(b) how frequently water samples will be collected; and
(c) the characteristics for which water samples will be tested; and
(d) how frequently water samples will be tested.
Part 4—Drinking water quality standards
16 Drinking water quality standards
(1) For the purposes of section 17(1) of the Act, the specified quality standards for drinking water are—
(a) the health-based drinking water quality standards specified in subregulation (2); and
(b) the aesthetic drinking water quality standard specified in subregulation (3); and
(c) on and from 6 January 2027, the aesthetic drinking water quality standards specified in subregulation (4).
(2) For the purposes of subregulation (1)(a), the specified health-based drinking water quality standards are the following—
(a) the drinking water does not contain Escherichia coli;
(b) if the drinking water contains a chemical or physical characteristic specified in Table 10.6 of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, the amount of the characteristic in the drinking water does not exceed the health guideline value (if any) that is specified opposite that characteristic in that Table;
(c) if the drinking water contains a microbial, chemical or physical characteristic that is not referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), the amount of the characteristic in the drinking water is less than an amount that would pose a risk to human health, whether that risk arises from the characteristic by itself or in combination with other characteristics.
(3) For the purposes of subregulation (1)(b), the specified aesthetic drinking water quality standard is that, in relation to all samples of the drinking water that are collected from a water sampling area during a period of 12 months and tested for turbidity levels, the 95th percentile of results for that period does not exceed 5 nephelometric turbidity units.
(4) For the purposes of subregulation (1)(c), the specified aesthetic drinking water quality standards are the following—
(a) in relation to all samples of the drinking water that are collected from a water sampling area during a period of 12 months and tested for pH levels, the average pH value of those samples is at least 6·5 but does not exceed 9·2;
(b) in relation to all samples of the drinking water that are collected from a water sampling area during a period of 12 months and tested for dissolved oxygen levels, the average amount of dissolved oxygen in those samples is more than 85 per cent;
(c) in relation to all samples of the drinking water that are collected from a water sampling area during a period of 12 months and tested for a chemical or physical characteristic specified in Column 2 of Schedule 2, the average amount of the characteristic in those samples does not exceed the aesthetic guideline value that is specified opposite that characteristic in Column 3 of that Schedule.
(5) For the purposes of section 19(1) of the Act, the aesthetic drinking water quality standards specified in subregulations (3) and (4) are not primarily intended to protect public health and may be varied under that section.
17 Frequency of collecting drinking water samples
A water supplier must ensure that samples of drinking water are collected from each location specified in the water supplier's water sampling program—
(a) for a water sample that is tested for a sample characteristic to which a determination under regulation 18 applies, at least as often as the frequency specified in that determination; and
(b) in any other case, at least as often as the frequency specified in the water supplier's water sampling program.
Penalty: 20 penalty units.
18 Secretary may determine frequency for collecting drinking water samples
(1) The Secretary may determine, in relation to drinking water that is to be tested for a sample characteristic specified in the determination, the frequency at which samples of that drinking water must be collected in a water sampling area.
(2) A determination under subregulation (1) may be made—
(a) on an application by a water supplier; or
(b) on the Secretary's own initiative.
(3) In making a determination under subregulation (1), the Secretary may have regard to—
(a) the number of persons who take water from the water sampling area, including any variation in that number at different times during the year; and
(b) the number of water samples to be collected during the period specified in the determination that would ensure that those samples represent, so far as practicable, the drinking water supplied from the water sampling area during that period; and
(c) any chemicals or other substances used to treat the drinking water from the water sampling area; and
(d) any other matter the Secretary considers relevant.
(4) A determination under subregulation (1) must specify the following—
(a) the water supplier to which the determination applies;
(b) the water sampling area to which the determination applies;
(c) how frequently water samples are to be collected in the water sampling area;
(d) the sample characteristic to which the determination applies;
(e) the period of the determination, including the date on which that period commences.
(5) A determination under subregulation (1) must be published in the Government Gazette.
19 Analysis of drinking water samples
A water supplier must ensure that each sample of drinking water collected from each location specified in the water supplier's water sampling program is analysed by an accredited testing organisation—
(a) for each characteristic that is specified in the water supplier's water sampling program; and
(b) at the testing frequency that is specified in the water supplier's water sampling program.
Penalty: 20 penalty units.
20 Requirement to give analysis results to Secretary
(1) Within 10 days after a water supplier receives analysis results, the water supplier must give a written summary of the results to the Secretary if those results indicate that—
(a) a sample characteristic of the water contravenes a drinking water quality standard; or
(b) in the reasonable opinion of the water supplier, the level of a characteristic measured in the water may pose a risk to public health or result in widespread public complaint.
Penalty: 20 penalty units.
Note
The drinking water quality standards are specified in regulation 16 for the purposes of section 17(1) of the Act.
(2) A water supplier that gives a written summary of analysis results to the Secretary under subregulation (1) must ensure that the summary specifies—
(a) the measurements of the sample characteristic or other parameter; and
(b) previous measurements of the sample characteristic or other parameter; and
(c) any related results of other samples from the water supplier that have been analysed by an accredited testing organisation; and
(d) the actions that the water supplier has taken, or proposes to take, in response to the contravention or risk.
Penalty: 20 penalty units.
(3) On and from 6 January 2027, within 30 days after the end of each reporting period, a water supplier must give to the Secretary a written summary of any analysis results received in relation to a water sample collected during that reporting period that indicate that—
(a) the pH value of the water is less than 6·5 or more than 9·2; or
(b) the turbidity of the water exceeds 5 nephelometric turbidity units; or
(c) the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water is 85 per cent or less; or
(d) if the water contains a chemical or physical characteristic specified in Column 2 of Schedule 2, the amount of the chemical or physical characteristic in the water exceeds the aesthetic guideline value that is specified opposite that characteristic in Column 3 of that Schedule.
Penalty: 20 penalty units.
(4) A water supplier that gives a written summary of analysis results to the Secretary under subregulation (3) must ensure that the summary specifies—
(a) the measurements of the sample characteristic or other parameter; and
(b) previous measurements of the sample characteristic or other parameter.
Penalty: 20 penalty units.
(5) In this regulation—
analysis results means the results of an analysis referred to in regulation 19;
reporting period means—
(a) the period beginning on 1 January and ending on 31 March; and
(b) the period beginning on 1 April and ending on 30 June; and
(c) the period beginning on 1 July and ending on 30 September; and
(d) the period beginning on 1 October and ending on 31 December.
Part 5—Other matters
21 Additional details to be included in a water supplier's annual report
For the purposes of section 26(1) and (2) of the Act, the required contents of a water supplier's annual report are—
(a) details of any new water sampling areas and any variations to water sampling areas specified in the water supplier's risk management plan; and
(b) if an emergency or incident occurred during the financial year that affected the quality of water supplied by the water supplier, information about actions taken by the water supplier in response to that emergency or incident; and
(c) any issues that arose as a consequence of the actions referred to in paragraph (b); and
(d) if the Secretary accepted a written undertaking by the water supplier under section 30 of the Act during the financial year, a summary of that undertaking; and
(e) a summary of the findings of the most recent risk management plan audit of the water supplier's risk management plan and any issues that the approved auditor raised during the risk management plan audit; and
(f) if the water supplier applied a drinking water treatment process to water supplied by the water supplier during the financial year—
(i) a summary of how the water was disinfected or treated; and
(ii) a summary of any other processes applied to the water; and
(iii) a summary of any issues that arose as a consequence of applying those processes; and
(iv) a list of all chemicals and other substances used to disinfect or treat the water; and
(g) in relation to the water supplied by the water supplier during the financial year, details of the water's compliance with the drinking water quality standards; and
Note
The drinking water quality standards are specified in regulation 16 for the purposes of section 17(1) of the Act.
(h) details of the water supplier's compliance with regulation 17 during the financial year; and
(i) if water supplied by the water supplier during the financial year did not comply with a drinking water quality standard, information about actions taken by the water supplier in relation to that water; and
(j) in relation to the analysis of water samples collected by the water supplier during the financial year—
(i) an evaluation of analysis results and information in respect of those water samples; and
(ii) a comparison of those results and information with corresponding results and information in respect of water samples collected during the previous 2 years; and
(k) if a variation of an aesthetic standard was approved under section 19 of the Act in respect of drinking water supplied by the water supplier during a period of the financial year, a summary of—
(i) that variation; and
(ii) any conditions imposed under section 21 of the Act in relation to that variation; and
(l) if an exemption from a water quality standard was approved under section 20 of the Act in respect of drinking water supplied by the water supplier during a period of the financial year, a summary of—
(i) that variation; and
(ii) any conditions imposed under section 21 of the Act in relation to that variation; and
(m) a summary of—
(i) any complaints received by the water supplier during the financial year that related to the quality of drinking water supplied by the water supplier; and
(ii) the water supplier's responses to those complaints and analysis of any issues that arose from those complaints; and
(n) a summary of steps taken by the water supplier to manage the aesthetic characteristics of the drinking water supplied by the water supplier during the financial year, including steps taken to manage the taste, odour, clarity and pH of that water; and
(o) if the water supplier supplied regulated water during the financial year, details of—
(i) that regulated water; and
(ii) the declaration under section 6 of the Act in respect of that regulated water; and
(iii) the steps taken in accordance with section 25 of the Act.
22 Additional details to be included in a water storage manager's annual report
For the purposes of section 26(1) and (2) of the Act, the required contents of a water storage manager's annual report are—
(a) if an emergency or incident occurred during the financial year that affected the quality of water supplied by the water storage manager, information about actions taken by the water storage manager in response to that emergency or incident; and
(b) any issues that arose as a consequence of the actions referred to in paragraph (a); and
(c) if the Secretary accepted a written undertaking by the water storage manager under section 30 of the Act during the financial year, a summary of that undertaking; and
(d) a summary of the findings of the most recent risk management plan audit of the water storage manager's risk management plan and any issues that the approved auditor raised during the risk management plan audit; and
(e) if the water storage manager applied a drinking water treatment process to water supplied by the water storage manager during the financial year—
(i) a summary of how the water was disinfected or treated; and
(ii) a summary of any other processes applied to the water; and
(iii) a summary of any issues that arose as a consequence of applying those processes; and
(iv) a list of all chemicals and other substances used to disinfect or treat the water; and
(f) if a water storage manager was exempted under section 8(3) of the Act from compliance with section 8(1) of the Act during a period of the financial year, details of that exemption and any condition imposed in relation to that exemption.
23 Infringement offences and infringement penalties
(1) For the purposes of section 47A(1) of the Act, an offence specified in Column 2 of the Table in Schedule 3 is prescribed as an infringement offence.
(2) For the purposes of section 47A(3) of the Act, the prescribed infringement penalty for an infringement offence referred to in subregulation (1) is the penalty specified in Column 3 of the Table in Schedule 3 in respect of that infringement offence.
Schedule 1—Risk management plan audit certificate
Regulation 8
Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2025
Certificate number: [insert a number to specifically identify this certificate from any other audit certificate issued by the approved auditor]
Audit period: [insert period of audit relevant to this certificate]
Date of audit completion: [insert date on which the audit is completed]
To: [insert full name and address of person who commissioned the audit]
Australian Business Number (ABN): [insert the business number of the water supplier or water storage manager]
I, [insert full name of approved auditor], after conducting a risk management plan audit in relation to the water supplied by [insert name of the water supplier or water storage manager], am of the opinion that—
*[insert name of water supplier] *has/*has not complied with the obligations imposed by section 7(1) of the Safe Drinking Water Act 2003 during the audit period.
*[insert name of water storage manager] *has/*has not complied with the obligations imposed by section 8(1) of the Safe Drinking Water Act 2003 during the audit period.
*The details of the reasons for non-compliance are—
*[insert/attach the details of the reasons for non-compliance]
Signature of approved auditor:
Date:
Delete if not applicable.
Schedule 2—Aesthetic quality standards—other chemical or physical characteristics
Regulation 16(4)
Column 1 Item
Column 2 Characteristic
Column 3 Aesthetic guideline value
1
Aluminium (acid-soluble)
0·2 mg/L
2
Ammonia (as NH3)
0·5 mg/L
3
Chloride
250 mg/L
4
Chlorine dioxide
0·4 mg/L
5
Chlorobenzene
0·01 mg/L
6
2-chlorophenol
0·0001 mg/L
7
2,4-dichlorophenol
0·0003 mg/L
8
2,4,6-trichlorophenol
0·002 mg/L
9
Colour
15 Hazen units
10
Copper
1 mg/L
11
1,2-dichlorobenzene
0·001 mg/L
12
1,3-dichlorobenzene
0·02 mg/L
13
1,4-dichlorobenzene
0·0003 mg/L
14
Ethylbenzene
0·003 mg/L
15
Hardness (as CaCO3)
200 mg/L
16
Hydrogen sulfide
0·05 mg/L
17
Iron
0·3 mg/L
18
Manganese
0·1 mg/L
19
Silica
80 mg/L
20
Sodium
180 mg/L
21
Styrene (vinylbenzene)
0·004 mg/L
22
Sulfate
250 mg/L
23
Toluene
0·025 mg/L
24
Total dissolved solids
600 mg/L
25
Trichlorobenzenes (total)
0·005 mg/L
26
Xylene
0·02 mg/L
27
Zinc
3 mg/L
Schedule 3—Infringements
Regulation 23
Table
Column 1 Item
Column 2 Infringement offence
Column 3 Infringement penalty
1
An offence against section 12(3) of the Act
10 penalty units
2
An offence against section 14 of the Act
10 penalty units
3
An offence against section 15 of the Act
10 penalty units
4
An offence against section 37(1) of the Act
2 penalty units
5
An offence against section 49 of the Act
7 penalty units
6
An offence against regulation 17
4 penalty units
7
An offence against regulation 19
4 penalty units
8
An offence against regulation 20(1)
4 penalty units
9
An offence against regulation 20(2)
4 penalty units
10
An offence against regulation 20(3)
4 penalty units
11
An offence against regulation 20(4)
4 penalty units
═════════════
Endnotes
1 General information
See www.legislation.vic.gov.au for Victorian Bills, Acts and current Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.
The Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2025, S.R. No. 60/2025 were made on 24 June 2025 by the Governor in Council under section 56 of the Safe Drinking Water Act 2003, No. 46/2003 and came into operation on 6 July 2025: regulation 3.
The Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2025 will sunset 10 years after the day of making on 24 June 2035 (see section 5 of the Subordinate Legislation Act 1994).
INTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)
Style changes
Section 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.
References to ILA s. 39B
Sidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided regulation, rule or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subregulations, subrules or subclauses the original regulation, rule or clause becomes subregulation, subrule or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression "(1)" at the beginning of the original regulation, rule or clause.
Interpretation
As from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:
• Headings
All headings included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after
1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any heading inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.
This includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; Orders; Parts into which an Order is divided; clauses; regulations; rules; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms.
See section 36(1A)(2A)(2B).
• Examples, diagrams or notes
All examples, diagrams or notes included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Statutory Rule. See section 36(3A).
• Punctuation
All punctuation included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after
1 January 2001 forms part of that Statutory Rule. Any punctuation inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.
See section 36(3B).
• Provision numbers
All provision numbers included in a Statutory Rule form part of that Statutory Rule, whether inserted in the Statutory Rule before, on or after
1 January 2001. Provision numbers include regulation numbers, rule numbers, subregulation numbers, subrule numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs. See section 36(3C).
• Location of "legislative items"
A "legislative item" is a penalty, an example or a note. As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of a Statutory Rule is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision. For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision. See section 36B.
• Other material
Any explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of a Statutory Rule. See section 36(3)(3D)(3E).
2 Table of Amendments
There are no amendments made to the Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2025 by statutory rules, subordinate instruments and Acts.
3 Explanatory details
Reg. 4: S.R. No. 88/2015.
——
Penalty Units
These Regulations provide for penalties by reference to penalty units within the meaning of section 110 of the Sentencing Act 1991. The amount of the penalty is to be calculated, in accordance with section 7 of the Monetary Units Act 2004, by multiplying the number of penalty units applicable by the value of a penalty unit.
The value of a penalty unit for the financial year commencing 1 July 2025 is $203.51. The amount of the calculated penalty may be rounded to the nearest dollar.
The value of a penalty unit for future financial years is to be fixed by the Treasurer under section 5 of the Monetary Units Act 2004. The value of a penalty unit for a financial year must be published in the Government Gazette and a Victorian newspaper before 1 June in the preceding financial year.
——
Table of Applied, Adopted or Incorporated Matter
The following table of applied, adopted or incorporated matter was included in S.R. No. 60/2025 in accordance with the requirements of regulation 5 of the Subordinate Legislation Regulations 2024.
| **Statutory rule provision** | **Title of applied, adopted or incorporated document** | **Matter in applied, adopted or incorporated document** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Regulation 5, definition of ***Australian Drinking Water Guidelines*** | National Water Quality Management Strategy—Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 6 2011, published by the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council, Commonwealth of Australia in October 2011 and updated in December 2024 | The whole |