Emergency Water Supply Points for Water Cartage

Introduction

Information on Emergency Water Supply Points for Rural Water Cartage (external link) (i.e. for domestic and stock purposes) is now located on the Department of Sustainability and Environment website (external link). There are more than 200 community water supply points in Victoria – a combination of bores, standpipes and surface extraction points (such as public access points on channels, streams and waterways).

Road and security access to each public water point varies, so it is advisable to contact the relevant Local Government Authority or Water Authority that manages the supply point to determine access requirements.

Emergency Water Supply Types

Drought Relief Bore used for stock and fire purposes. This image shows Bore 86752 which is located west of Horsham.

Municipal Drought Relief Bores In previous droughts, the Victorian Government has funded the construction of emergency groundwater bores. The most recent of these droughts was in 1982/83, and to date some 200 bores have been installed. The emergency supply network was based on achieving a distribution of bores so that landholders did not have to travel more than 20 km to supply points. Arrangements for access to these bores can be made through the relevant Local Government Authority. Urban Standpipes Emergency supplies to “non-customers” (i.e. people not normally supplied by an urban water authority) may be provided via a standpipe connection to an urban supply system. Many Urban Water Authorities already have a number of standpipes throughout their region and will be able to provide advice as to their location. Access to existing or new standpipes will be subject to water availability. It is up to the individual water authorities to determine the arrangements for access and payment.

Channels, Streams and Waterways Water for domestic and stock purposes may be extracted and carted from channels and streams from public access points. Rural Water Authorities manage the extraction of such water and will need to provide advice as to the location of these points and the availability of supply. Where water is extracted by water cartage operators, it is considered a commercial use, and therefore licence approval is required to take water from streams and channels for this purpose.

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