About 90% of West Australians receive drinking water from licensed and regulated public drinking water supply systems – scheme suppliers. As a result, Western Australia has one of the lowest instances of water-borne diseases in the world.
Other unlicensed drinking water service providers include:

• Department of Housing: 91 indigenous communities through the Remote Aboriginal Essential Services Program
• Local government: Small community drinking water scheme suppliers
• Minesites and exploration camps
• Private small system operators supplying to public (e.g. roadhouses, caravan parks and water carriers)

Domestic household’s in remote or regional area that is not connected to any reticulated scheme manages their own drinking water system.

Who regulates the quality of drinking water in WA?

The Department of Health WA (DOH) regulates drinking water in this State. DOH requires drinking water service providers in the State, to monitor their systems and report the results to the Department.

Private small system operators supplying drinking water to the public are monitored by DOH through a network local government health authorities.

Who monitors the water quality standards in WA?

Since 1925, the Advisory Committee for the Purity of Water has been monitoring the quality of West Australian drinking water and recommending improvements in monitoring and management protocols to the Minister of Health and Water Resources.

For more information on the Advisory Committee for the Purity of Water, refer to: Advisory Committee for the Purity of Water (PDF 725KB) 

How should a problem about drinking water be reported?

Problems concerning the quality of drinking water should be reported to the supplier or the local government Environmental Health Officer in the first instance.

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Contact the Water Unit, Environmental Health Directorate: (08) 9388 4999.