Drinking water

Want to learn more? Explore, visualise and compare data from Queensland's water and sewerage service providers using our interactive online tool – Queensland's Urban Water Explorer.

To protect public health, the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers closely monitors and regulates drinking water in Queensland.

The Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008 applies to all drinking water service providers. This includes all councils and organisations, which own one or more elements of water infrastructure and intend to charge for the water supply and are involved in harvesting, collecting treating, transmitting or reticulating water for drinking purposes.

Registered drinking water service providers are required to have an approved drinking water quality management plan (DWQMP) in place, within one year of commencing the drinking water service and comply with the plan and any conditions placed upon the plan, by the regulator.

The department ensures that service providers' DWQMPs meet the requirements of the Act.

For full information, read the Guideline for the preparation, review, and audit of DWQMPs (PDF, 3MB).

This guide details the obligations of drinking water service providers in Queensland.