• Skip to content
  • Skip to navigation
  • About us
  • Make a payment
  • Accessibility
  • News
  • Publications
  • Contact Us
Government of Western Australia Department of Water and Environmental Regulation
Go to Minister for Water
Go to whole of WA Government search
Home Show Sub Nav
Planning for the future Show Sub Nav
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

This content has been updated and moved to WA.gov.au

Rural water support

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

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

This content has been updated and moved to WA.gov.au

Meeting demand

Information about how we work with government, water service providers, industry and communities to identify water demand management and supply options that enable sustainable water use.

Licensing Show Sub Nav
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

This content has been updated and moved to WA.gov.au

Legislation Show Sub Nav
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.

Urban water Show Sub Nav
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.

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

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,

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.

Water topics Show Sub Nav
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

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.

Maps & data Show Sub Nav
Maps

Monitoring and data

Main
  • Home
  • Urban water
  • Urban development
  • Urban water design
  • Water services
  • Urban development
    • Urban water management
    • Urban water design
    • Stormwater
    • Urban water planning
    • Drainage for Liveability
  • Recycling and efficiency
  • Bores
  • Drinking water
Share
  • facebook iconFacebook
  • twitter iconTwitter
  • email iconEmail

Urban water design

Urban development, including residential, rural-residential, commercial and industrial developments and associated infrastructure, can have significant impacts on water resources. Additionally, water resources can have significant impacts on the location, design, form and function of urban developments. The Department of Water being the lead water resources manager in Western Australia has a responsibility to protect, conserve and manage water resources. The broader view whereby the department works within the Western Australian Planning Commission governance is described under Water and land use planning.

4.2.3

As part of fulfilling this responsibility, the department assesses water management strategies and plans prepared under the Better Urban Water Management process.  The department also provides water management and design advice on development proposals, including the state government's strategic and special projects, and advocates for and engages with various stakeholders so that the developments:

  • address applicable water resource management components, opportunities and issues (e.g. water 4.2.3aservice, stormwater/surface water and protection from flooding, groundwater, water quality, protection of receiving waters) with appropriate design and implementation plans, as early as possible in the project planning stages
  • implement a water sensitive urban design approach
  • design urban form and infrastructure and adopt appropriate construction practices that do not result in unacceptable impacts to water resources or unacceptable impacts from water resources on urban form and infrastructure
  • recognise the need for site-specific solutions that include innovative approaches and appropriate non-structural and structural controls.

The department published the Water monitoring guidelines for better urban water management strategies and plans. These guidelines assist urban land developers to determine the pre- and post-development monitoring requirements of surface water and groundwater systems to support district water management strategies, local water management strategies or urban water management plans.

4.2.2hSome urban developments are located in areas with shallow groundwater. The process and considerations for a shallow groundwater management system are detailed in Water resource considerations when controlling groundwater levels in urban development.

Design of Public Open Space and water supply options for it is a significant issue with urban design.  The Public Parkland Planning and Design Guide (WA) outlines how to achieve the best outcomes for planning and designing public parklands within the WA planning and water policy framework. The principles within the guide bring social,  economic and environmental sustainability to the forefront of decision making.

4.2.3c


Water sensitive design brochures

These brochures are available at WA.gov.au

Page last updated - 30 Jun 2022
Return to top of page
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.

WA.gov.au
FOR MORE NEWS ON WA WATER
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR RSS
All content copyright © Government of Western Australia. All rights reserved.
  • Home
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • -->