Version No. 017
Safe Drinking Water Act 2003
No. 46 of 2003
Version incorporating amendments as at
1 March 2025
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Section Page
Part 1—Preliminary matters
1Purpose and outline
2Commencement
3Definitions
4Supply includes to release water
5Application
6Declaration concerning regulated water
Part 2—Risk management plans
Division 1—Requirement to have plan
7Water suppliers must prepare, implement and review risk management plans
8Water storage managers must prepare, implement and review risk management plans
9Risk management plan
Division 2—Audits
10Risk management plan audit
11Secretary may require risk management plan audit
12Audit certificate to be given
13Approval of risk management plan auditors
14Only approved auditors may conduct audits
15Auditor must comply with conditions of approval
16Conflict of interest to be avoided
Part 3—Other obligations on water suppliers and water storage managers
Division 1—Drinking water quality standards
17Drinking water must comply with quality standards
18Notification required if non-complying water supplied
19Variations of aesthetic standards
20Exemption from water quality standards
21Minister may impose conditions
Division 2—Disclosure and reporting requirements
22Officer to report known or suspected contamination
23Water quality monitoring information to be made publicly available
24Water storage manager to give information to water supplier
25Warnings to be given if regulated water supplied
26Water suppliers or water storage managers to provide annual report
Division 3—Protection of officers reporting known or suspected contamination
26ADefinition
26BApplication
26CCertain further information also protected
26DImmunity from liability
26EConfidentiality provisions do not apply
26FProtection from defamation action
26GLiability for own conduct
26HProtection from reprisal
26IProceedings for damages for reprisal
26JApplication for injunction or order
26KInjunction or order
Part 4—Administrative and enforcement matters
Division 1—General functions and powers of the Secretary
27Functions of Secretary
28General powers of the Secretary
29Secretary may require certain information
30Secretary may accept undertakings
31Secretary may issue enforcement notice
32Annual report
33Register of variations, exemptions and undertakings
Division 2—Incident management
34Powers of the Secretary if there is a risk to public health
35Limit on power of delegation
36Power to assess and address immediate risks
37Display of identity cards
38Announcement before entry
39Occupier to be given copy of consent
40Receipt must be given for any thing seized
41Copies of certain seized things to be given
42Access to seized things
43Use of equipment to examine or process things
44Use or seizure of electronic equipment at premises
45Return of seized things
46Magistrates' Court may extend period
47Self-incrimination not an excuse
Division 2A—Infringement notices
47AInfringement notice
Division 3—Authorised officers
48Appointment procedure
49Offence to obstruct authorised officer
50Offence to impersonate authorised officer
Division 4—Administration levy
51Requirement to pay levy
52Meaning of costs of administering this Act
53How amount of levy to be calculated
54Collection of the levy
Part 5—Miscellaneous matters
Division 1—Miscellaneous offence
55False information not to be given
Division 2—Regulations
56Regulations
Part 6—Consequential and transitional provisions
59Repeal of immunity provision
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Endnotes
1 General information
2 Table of Amendments
3 Explanatory details
Version No. 017
Safe Drinking Water Act 2003
No. 46 of 2003
Version incorporating amendments as at
1 March 2025
The Parliament of Victoria enacts as follows:
PART 1—PRELIMINARY…