Potable (drinking) Water Supply Agreement Guide

You have a Water Supply Agreement because your property is outside our Water Supply District as approved by the Victorian Minister for Water.

With the consent of the Minister, we are still able to supply properties outside our Water Supply District, but we are legally required to enter into Water Supply Agreement with each individual property owner.

The Water Supply District is the area approved by the Minister as our service area. Within this area we can supply water subject to the availability of suitable pipes, pumps and treatment facilities. To service properties outside this area we must have a Water Supply Agreement in place with the property owner.

Your Water Supply Agreement is for the supply of potable water. Potable water is safe drinking water. It has been treated to meet the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act 2003 and is intended primarily for people to drink and for other domestic uses such as bathing and showering.

We deliver your potable water to the property Acceptance Point identified in the Water Supply Agreement.

The Acceptance Point is the point where the water leaves our water main, and the property owner becomes responsible the water supply from that point.

The Acceptance Point is usually the water meter adjacent to our water main.

The GPS (Global Positioning System) of your Acceptance Point is noted in Item 7A in the Particulars of your Water Supply Agreement.

In normal operation the quality of water is assured at the Acceptance Point. However, the length and quality of pipes or water storages used to supply the property after the Acceptance Point may reduce quality to below safe drinking water standards.

Your Water Supply Agreement covers the arrangement between you and Gippsland Water for the supply of water. It identifies the property and includes any Service Constraints specific to your property. It covers both our commitments as the supplier and your commitments as the property owner.

Note our Customer Charter does not apply to customers who are located outside the Water Supply District. The Water Supply Agreement replaces the obligations of the Customer Charter.

A Service Constraint is a condition that specifically applies to the water supply to your property. Service Constraints may impact your water supply. Service Constraints may include one or more of the following:

• The property is outside our Water Supply District.
• The property is supplied by a distribution main.
• The property may experience low flow rate.
• The property is serviced by private water supply works.
• The property is serviced by a private water supply network.
• The property is serviced by a privately owned water supply pipe that crosses neighbouring private land.

All Service Constraints relevant to your property are listed in Item 11 of your Water Supply Agreement.

a) Your property is outside the Water Supply District

The property may be outside our service area - Water Supply District.

A Water Supply District is the area where the Victorian Water Minister has approved the supply of water subject to the availability of suitable infrastructure.

We can only provide services to properties outside our district by entering into a Water Supply Agreement or Raw (Non-Drinking) Water Supply Agreement with the Property owner.

b) The property is supplied by a distribution main

A distribution main carries water from a treatment plant or treated water storage to the town’s network of pipes. Being connected directly to a distribution main may result in a varying water supply. This may be due to the following:

• The main is in an isolated area or difficult terrain so that repair or normal maintenance timeframes are extended.
• The main is subject to varying methods of operation (eg the main may switch between different water sources). These changes in operation may affect the quality of supply.
• The flow through the main is restricted from time to time such as during drought or water restrictions, maintenance works or pressure problems.
• Treatment facility problems which could require feeding from a downstream service basin, resulting in a temporary reduced flow.

See also ‘g) Recommendations’.

c) The property may experience low flow

Properties with low flow may experience periods of water flow less than 20 litres per minute from a 20mm service pipe at the water meter or Acceptance Point.

When investigating options that include using storage tanks, please consider that the water supply you receive from us has been treated to ensure it meets safe drinking water standards at the Acceptance Point.

Storing or leaving water in tanks or pipes or mixing our potable water with rainwater may reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.

See also ‘g) Recommendations’.

d) Single property is serviced by private water supply works

This occurs when the water main does not front the property boundary. The private water service pipe is usually located along the road reserve and runs from the Acceptance Point to your property. You are charged for all water usage beyond the Acceptance Point.

You are responsible for the maintenance and any costs associated with the upkeep of the private water service pipe.

See also ‘g) Recommendations’.

e) Multiple properties are serviced by a private water supply network

This occurs when a property is one of a group of properties which receive water from a private water supply network.

The private water supply network supplies a number of properties through a common, privately owned pipe.

The Acceptance Point is the primary meter, which should be adjacent to our water main.

Property owners are jointly responsible for the maintenance and costs associated with the water pipe from the Acceptance Point (primary meter) to the property meters (secondary meters), and solely responsible for the maintenance and costs associated with the pipe from the secondary meter.

Property owners are charged for all water usage recorded on their individual meter (secondary meter) and a share of the surplus water usage on the primary meter. The surplus water usage is the difference between the usage recorded on the primary meter less the usage of all the secondary meters.

It is recommended that the property owners regularly inspect the pipe route for leaks.

See also ‘g' Recommendations.

f) The property is serviced by a privately owned water pipe that crosses neighbouring private land

This usually occurs when the water main does not front the property’s boundary, and the privately owned raw water pipe may cross private land to reach your property.

The property owner will be charged for all water usage beyond the Acceptance Point.

The property owner is responsible for the maintenance and any costs associated with the upkeep of the privately owned water pipe.

As there may be no easement over the privately owned pipe, it is the property owner’s responsibility to arrange with the neighbour access to the land where the pipe is located.

It is recommended that the property owners regularly inspect the pipe route for water leaks. Appropriately located isolation valves may assist when repair works need to be undertaken.

g) Recommendations

• Regularly inspect private water pipes and networks for leaks to prevent water wastage or possible contamination.
• If the rate of flow of water is of concern, please consult a plumber who can advise you of any options that may be available.
• Review the size of pipes to ensure they are the right size for your needs.
• Install isolation valves to assist when repair work may be needed.

The Water Supply Agreement can be terminated by either us or the property owner giving six months notice.

The Property Information Statement provided to the purchaser’s solicitor or conveyancer will note the property is outside the Water Supply District and a copy of the Water Supply Agreement will be provided. While not obligated, in most cases we will enter into an Agreement with the new owners.

In brief, no. The Customer Charter only covers customers within the Water Supply District. The Water Supply Agreement serves the same purpose as the Customer Charter.

Water Supply Districts are based on a number of factors including location, zoning, existing services and potential development. Until there are significant changes in one or more of these factors the boundaries in the Water Supply District are unlikely to change.

We will continue to supply your property if you continue to pay your water bill, regardless of whether or not you sign the Agreement. The payment suggests acceptance of the Agreement. (Please refer to clause 28 of the Agreement.)

Acceptance Point is the point where the water leaves our supply pipes and the responsibility for the water supply changes from us to the property owner(s). This Acceptance Point is usually the water meter adjacent to our water main.

Distribution main carries water from the treatment plant or treated water storage to the town’s network of pipes.

Low flow refers to the supply of water below an accepted level of service. This level of service is typically set to at least 20 litres of water per minute for a 20mm supply pipe. The water flow is measured at the closest tap to the water meter servicing the property.

Potable water also known as drinking water, is water safe enough for drinking and food preparation, meeting the standards of the Safe Drinking Water Act 2003.

Private water service are pipes that we do not own or manage. The maintenance and repair of these pipes is the responsibility of the individual or group of individuals whose properties are serviced by water from these pipes.

Quality of supply refers to the pressure and other factors affecting the supply of water through our infrastructure.

Raw (non-drinking) water is natural water found in the environment. Examples of this are rainwater, rivers and ground water or water from storages such as lakes and reservoirs. This water source is considered raw (untreated) and is not suitable for human consumption. This means it should not be used for drinking, food preparation, ice making, cleaning teeth or activities such as bathing and showering.

Reticulation refers to the network of pipes, pumps, valves and meters we manage and carry water from the treatment plant to the property Acceptance Point. We are responsible for the maintenance of this water supply network and the treatment plant.

Safe Drinking Water Act 2003 regulates the quality of drinking water supplies. It places obligations on us in providing safe drinking water.

Service Constraints are the conditions that exist specific to the water supply to a property. These constraints or limitations include the property being outside the Water Supply District. The property may also experience low water flow or be on a private water service.

Transfer main carries non-drinking (raw) water from the storage reservoir to the water treatment plant. This untreated water is not advisable for human consumption.

Treatment plant is a facility that treats raw water to the standards specified under the Safe Drinking Water Act 2003.

Water Supply Agreement is a signed document that manages the supply of water to a customer who lives outside the Water Supply District and may also be supplied water with additional Service Constraints.

Either we or the customer can terminate a Water Supply Agreement by giving six months’ notice.

Water Supply District is an area, approved by the Minister, for us to supply water subject to the availability of suitable pipes, pumps and treatment facilities. We must have a Water Supply Agreement in place to be able to provide services to properties outside the Water Supply District.

For further information about your Water Supply Agreement, please contact our Property Services team on 1800 050 500 or email:

contactus@gippswater.com.au

The team will be happy to discuss any issues with you.