1 Policy statement
In line with its commitment to providing safe, high quality drinking water to customers, Barwon Water will work with and assist customers in fulfilling their backflow prevention and containment obligations to minimise the risk of potential contaminants from their on-site processes entering the community’s water supply.
2 Scope
Barwon Water is a statutory corporation with water supply and sewerage responsibilities conferred on it by the Water Act 1989 (Vic).
The Water (Estimation, Supply and Sewerage) Regulations 2014 empower Barwon Water to outline the conditions which all property owners must comply with when connecting to the water supply. In accordance with these powers, all owners of a serviced property, when requested, are required to arrange the installation of a risk-appropriate backflow prevention device, as specified by Barwon Water.
In the event of a property owner refusing to rectify a potential backflow hazard or cross-connection hazard, Section 141 of the Water Act empowers Barwon Water to disconnect the reticulated water supply system to the relevant property in order to protect the system and public health.
Barwon Water regulates the requirement for all customers to have risk-appropriate backflow prevention and containment through the Backflow Prevention and Containment Policy Guidelines and a system of Backflow Prevention Agreements, requiring annual testing of medium and high hazard backflow prevention devices.
This policy should be read in conjunction with the Backflow Prevention and Containment Policy Guidelines. The Policy Guidelines identify the type of backflow prevention and containment required for property connections with low, medium or high hazards – as defined in AS/NZS 3500.1 Water Services and the Plumbing Code of Australia (and as amended) – and the conditions that property owners must comply with to remain connected to the reticulated water supply system.
3 Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to direct the implementation of customer backflow prevention and containment obligations with the aim of protecting the community’s water supply from hazards that could be detrimental to public safety.
This forms part of Barwon Water’s Drinking Water Quality Risk Management System, the preventative risk management approach used to ensure Barwon Water can deliver on the key water quality aspects of Barwon Water’s Strategy 2030 and the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act (2003).
4 Policy Details
Barwon Water is committed to working with customers and other relevant agencies to:
- proactively manage and protect the water supply from backflow risks.
- protect the health and safety of members of the public and Barwon Water employees.
- protect Barwon Water's water supply assets.
- maintain compliance with Barwon Water’s Drinking Water Quality Risk Management System, Backflow Prevention Agreements, the Water Act 1989, the Safe Drinking Water Act 2003, and relevant regulations.
For further information on Barwon Water's Backflow Prevention and Containment requirements, please read the Backflow Prevention and Containment Policy Guidelines below or request a copy by calling 1300 656 007.
Barwon Water's Backflow Prevention and Containment Policy Guidelines (PDF 276.2 KB)
