Environment Protection (Water Quality) Policy 2015 Review
We are inviting you to have your say on the review of the Environment Protection (Water Quality) Policy 2015.
What's being decided?
We are reviewing the Environmental Protection (Water Quality) Policy 2015.
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is proposing important changes to protect the quality of South Australian water environments.
Most notably, the review aims to provide improved protection of groundwater systems against pollution.
To protect all underground waters for future generations the new ‘future use’ environmental values are proposed to require that, as far as reasonably practicable, any activities are managed to prevent a deterioration in water quality.
The EPA is also proposing, among other areas of potential improvement, to recognise cultural and spiritual values in South Australian waters. This reform aims to acknowledge that waters in South Australia have significance to First Nations Peoples that goes beyond primary industry uses, drinking and aquatic ecosystems.
Background
Water quality in South Australia is protected by the Environmental Protection Act 1993 (EP Act) and the environment protection policies made under it. The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) uses the Environmental Protection (Water Quality) Policy 2015 (Water Quality Policy) as the primary policy to regulate water quality as it provides the most specific and detailed protection of the state’s surface, marine and underground waters (groundwater).
Since the Water Quality Policy commenced in January 2016, several areas of opportunity to enhance its ability to protect South Australia’s waters and bring it into line with current science have been identified.
The discussion paper outlines five areas for proposed policy improvement:
- Improved protection of all underground (including saline) waters for future use
- Update the national water quality guidelines to align with current Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality, which includes recognition of cultural and spiritual values of waters
- Align the Water Quality Policy with the Planning and Design Code requirements in the Mount Lofty Ranges Water Supply Catchment, allowing the EPA to require that development applications referred to it have a neutral or beneficial effect on water quality
- Align the Water Quality Policy with the updated Code of Practice for Vessel and Facility Management (Marine and Inland Waters) 2019 (Vessel Management Code)
- Updating schedules to ensure best practice, including:
- Schedule 2 – Class 1 pollutants
- Schedule 3 – Class 2 pollutants
- Schedule 4 – Codes, standards, guidelines and other documents
Get involved
Find out more:
- Read the Discussion Paper
- Take a look at our FAQs
- Attend an information session. Register your interest via email epainfo@sa.gov.au(mark subject as ‘Registration- Water Quality Policy Review’) or Eventbrite by following the links below:
Have your say by:
- Taking our Survey
- Register for an upcoming information session
- Email a submission to epainfo@sa.gov.au (mark subject as ‘Water Quality Policy Review’)
- Post your written submission to: Attn: Dr Clive Jenkins, Environment Protection Authority, GPO Box 2607, Adelaide SA 5001
What are the next steps?
We will evaluate all submissions and prepare a consultation report.
We will share the consultation report on this page and the EPA website.
Feedback on the Water Quality Policy review will inform the preparation of a draft policy that will be further consulted on in accordance with section 28 of the EP Act.
