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Government of Western Australia Department of Water and Environmental Regulation
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Finding new water resources, including Royalties for Regions-funded programs and other drilling programs to explore resources across the state.

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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.

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Information about ensuring sustainable water supplies for the state’s population and industries, including the Water for Growth and Water for Food programs.

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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.

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Integrated water and land use planning based on the principles of total water cycle management.

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The Department of Water invites you to share your ideas on creating innovative solutions to water challenges.

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Licences and how to apply, licensing policies, forms to download and answers to questions frequently asked by current and prospective licensees.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Current legislation for which the Department of Water assists the Minister for Water. Click here for current WA legislation.

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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.

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Legislation and policy for Western Australia’s water service providers.

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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.

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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,

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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.

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Information on the state’s groundwater resources, locations, investigations, aquifer recharge and sustainable management of water resources, including an overview of state groundwater investigations.

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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.

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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.

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Rivers and estuaries and their importance including information on monitoring and assessing waterways, protecting, understanding, planning, restoring, and risks and threats.

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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

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Click here for information on types of irrigators, licenses and the role of irrigation as an economic enabler for industry.

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Information on the department’s role in relation to the shale and tight gas industry.

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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.

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Onshore petroleum and water resources

Protection of the water resources is the Department of Water’s priority. Accordingly, as the state’s lead agency for water, the department will actively shape whole-of-government policy and practice on water resources management relating to onshore petroleum. This will be done in addition to our statutory functions by providing leadership and active advice, supported by good science, for the benefit of the community, government, proponents and decision-making authorities.

Our regulatory role

We regulate the taking of water for the purposes of exploring and extracting onshore petroleum where that water is sourced from a proclaimed groundwater or surface water resource. The department administers the licensing and permitting provisions of the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914, including assessment of applications for:

  • section 26D licence to construct or alter a bore for the taking of water
  • section 5C licence to authorise the taking of water needed for drilling the petroleum well and make up the hydraulic fracturing fluid
  • permit to disturb, destroy or interfere with the bed or bank of a water course.

Applications for these licences and permits are assessed in accordance with existing Department of Water policies and processes.

Our advisory role

A key role of the Department of Water is to provide advice to other decision making authorities and proponents on activities that have the potential to impact water resources.

We will adopt a risk-based approach when assessing and providing advice on the potential impacts of onshore petroleum activities. Our advice will focus on water protection and management, and include appropriate mitigation and remediation measures to ensure the sustainability of water resources and the environment, community and industry they support.

Advice may be provided in relation to:

  • changes to legislation and supporting documents
  • water planning strategies
  • informing ministers and parliament
  • onshore petroleum applications or proposals referred by the Department of Mines and Petroleum, the Environmental Protection Authority, the Appeals Convenor, or other agencies
  • requests from proponents and/or their consultants prior to formal assessment of their proposal by the Department of Mines and Petroleum or other agencies (for example on aspects of the environmental plan required under the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967)
  • requests from the community, including local government authorities and interest groups.

Where to find more information

For more information on the following topics please click on the links below:

Department of Mines and Petroleum – natural gas from shale and tight rocks

Department of Water – water resource licensing

Department of Water – water source protection

Page last updated - 01 Oct 2015
Contact us

Department of Water and Environmental Regulation

Related publications

Administrative Agreement between the Department of Mines and Petroleum and Department of Water For Onshore Petroleum and Geothermal Activities in Western Australia

Brochure: Water and the shale and tight gas industry

Guideline for Groundwater Monitoring in the Onshore Petroleum and Geothermal Industry

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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.

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