Water topics
The Department of Water has delegated responsibility for managing the state's water resources. This covers water for drinking, industry, mining, agriculture and urban development, as well as our natural waterways such as rivers and estuaries.
While we live in a dry state, we are fortunate to have access to good quality water sources. Very few of us think about where the water comes from – an aquifer, surface water, or a blend from several sources.
We enjoy living near our estuaries and rivers, but we need to protect the water quality in these waterways by controlling our land uses and their impact on these waterways.
Groundwater
Information on the state’s groundwater resources, locations, investigations, aquifer recharge and sustainable management of water resources, including an overview of state groundwater investigations.
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, 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.
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
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.
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 and their importance including information on monitoring and assessing waterways, protecting, understanding, planning, restoring, and risks and threats.
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
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
Irrigation
Click here for information on types of irrigators, licenses and the role of irrigation as an economic enabler for industry.
Click here for information on types of irrigators, licenses and the role of irrigation as an economic enabler for industry.
Onshore petroleum and water resources
Information on the department’s role in relation to the shale and tight gas industry.
Information on the department’s role in relation to the shale and tight gas industry.