Water use and monitoring

Find information about water restrictions, drinking water quality, water licensing, water management and water for the environment.

Water restrictions

Learn about water restrictions and how you can save water.

Drinking water

A secure and safe supply of drinking water is fundamental to public health. The NSW Government uses the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines to ensure our water is safe to drink.

Water pollution and water quality

Chemicals, litter and waste in our waterways and oceans can have serious impacts on human health, drinking water quality and the environment.

Wastewater and stormwater

Wastewater that is cleaned, treated and purified and stormwater, when harvested and treated, can be recycled for many uses including watering parks and gardens, irrigating farms or used in industrial processes and manufacturing.

Water licensing

It is an offence to take water from a water source without a water access licence. Water theft is a serious crime.

Water for the environment

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment manages a portfolio of water on behalf of the NSW Government to support the health of rivers, floodplains and wetlands across the state.
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