What is the Water Resources Act?

The Water Resources Act 2007 (the Act) is a law that controls how we can use water directly from water bodies including surface water and groundwater in the ACT. All water use from Territory water bodies including streams, dams or groundwater is controlled by the Act. This covers:

• The allocation of water and the licensing of use;
• Licensing of drillers; and
• Licences for the construction of bores and waterway works (including farm dams and weirs).

While the Act applies to water that ACTEW takes from rivers and streams, it does not apply to the use of water by ACTEW's mains supply customers, water collected in rainwater tanks, or the on-site use of wastewater.

For more information

• See our Legislation and Information Fact Sheets
• Download Application Forms and Fee Information
• View our page on Environmental Flows
• Water entitlements and trading
• Water Resources Act Register