Water carters

Ensuring safe drinking water with the Public Health Act 2010 and Public Health Regulation 2022

The Public Health Act 2010 and the Public Health Regulation 2022 require drinking water suppliers to:

• have a quality assurance prgram (QAP) that complies with the Regulation
• comply with (i.e. implement) its QAP
  
• provide a copy of the QAP to the local Public Health Unit
• keep records relating to managing the safety of its drinking water supply.

Penalties may now apply if these requirements are not followed.

NSW Guidelines for Water Carters will help water carters provide safe drinking water.

IB2013_003 Private Water Supplies and Water Carters details relevant legislation for Local Government and Public Health Units.

Water carters are a food business and must notify their local council with their business details.

NSW Food Authority has information available for food businesses using non-reticulated water.

Water carters sourcing drinking water from Sydney Water can send questions to watercarters@sydneywater.com.au

Recording keeping requirements

The Regulation has record keeping requirements for water carters and water utilities supplying water to water carters. A water utility must make and keep for at least 6 months a record of the name, address and telephone number of each water carter to whom they supply.

A water carter must make and keep for at least 6 months a record of:

• the name of the water supplier from which the water carter received water
• the name and address of each person to whom the water carter supplies water
• the place, date, time and volume of water supplied to that person
• details of any substances other than drinking water transported in any water tank used by the water carter
• the dates on which any water tank used by the water carter is cleaned.

Drinking water carters must develop and adhere to a quality assurance program. A copy of the completed quality assurance program document must be provided to the local NSW Health Public Health Unit. Water carters may complete a Water Carter QAP template or create their own.

Water Carters can refer to the completed example QAP and the NSW Guidelines for Water Carters to prepare their own QAP.