Drinking Water Quality Policy

Policy statement

We are committed to the effective management and provision of safe, reliable, and high-quality drinking water that meets all regulatory requirements and aligns with our customers’ expectations.

Purpose

The variable quality of our water sources is influenced by the surrounding catchments, which require real time monitoring and management of water treatment processes. The purpose of this policy is to outline our approach to the delivery of safe, reliable, and aesthetically acceptable drinking water to our region so we can enjoy a healthy and sustainable Gippsland for future generations.

Scope

This policy applies to all Gippsland Water employees, contractors, and stakeholders involved in managing drinking water supply systems from catchment to customers’ meters.

Policy details

To achieve our strategic objectives, deliver on our commitments to customers and ensure that they are provided with safe, reliable, and high-quality drinking water, we will: 

• Sustainably manage water quality at all points along the delivery chain, from source waters to the customer meter;
• Collaborate with the community, partner organisations, agencies, committees, regulators, and all levels of government to contribute to initiatives;
• Advocate for source protection of catchments, the primacy of drinking water quality and complementary surrounding land uses;
• Integrate the needs and expectations of customers, stakeholders, regulators and employees into planning and delivery activities;
• Identify and assess risks to water quality and safety and undertake necessary measures to ensure effective controls are in place;
• Undertake regular drinking water quality monitoring and performance assessment to verify compliance with the relevant guidelines and regulatory requirements;
• Report and openly share drinking water quality monitoring results and performance to regulators and customers in a timely manner;
• Develop and maintain appropriate contingency planning and incident response capabilities to manage water quality incidents;
• Providing employees with the necessary information, training, supervision, support and resources;
• Actively liaise with the regulators, institutions, and industry professionals to anticipate and better understand emerging water quality issues;
• Maintain and continually improve Drinking Water Quality Management System to ensure the ongoing delivery of safe drinking water to our customers;
• Participate in research and development opportunities to resolve operational challenges, maintain our state of knowledge, and mitigate risks;
• Contribute to initiatives and activities that educate and enhance community resilience and awareness of water resources, catchments, water treatment and water quality issues.