Finding new water resources, including Royalties for Regions-funded programs and other drilling programs to explore resources across the state.
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.
Information about ensuring sustainable water supplies for the state’s population and industries, including the Water for Growth and Water for Food programs.
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.
Information, advice and management of flood plans based on flood behaviour research and floodplain mapping for the state's major rivers.
Integrated water and land use planning based on the principles of total water cycle management.
Licences and how to apply, licensing policies, forms to download and answers to questions frequently asked by current and prospective licensees.
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 measuring the water you take helps you understand your water usage to make the most of your entitlements and reduce your overall costs.
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
Current legislation for which the Department of Water assists the Minister for Water. Click here for current WA legislation.
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.
Legislation and policy for Western Australia’s water service providers.
Planning and managing water to enable growing, liveable water smart towns and cities.
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.
For information on groundwater, garden bores and waterwise gardens please visit our Be Groundwater Wise website. You can find questions and answers about garden bores,
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.
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, 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.
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.
Rivers and estuaries and their importance including information on monitoring and assessing waterways, protecting, understanding, planning, restoring, and risks and threats.
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
Information on the department’s role in relation to the shale and tight gas industry.
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.
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.
Check real time river level readings
Managing estuaries for the long-term
Apply for licence or permit Manage an existing licence Submit meter readings Submit requests for planning advice
For access to free water information from the Department of Water’s database
Initiatives supporting regional development in Western Australia
Water for Food is a $127.5 million program using water source investigations to develop new irrigation areas and increase productivity of existing irrigation districts
