Property owners and occupiers: what you need to know about backflow prevention legislation
The Plumbing regulations set out the installation standards and state that only licensed plumbers are to be used for plumbing work.
The Water Corporation’s powers and the responsibilities of property owners and occupiers in relation to backflow prevention devices are identified in the following:
- Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage Act 1909
- Country Areas Water Supply Act 1947
- Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage By-laws 1981
- Country Areas Water Supply By-laws 1957
The Water Corporation can issue notices to owners or occupiers of land requiring them to install a backflow prevention device if the Water Corporation is of the opinion that a private service presents a contamination risk to water supplied by the Water Corporation’s water supply system. Where an owner or occupier fails to comply with the terms of a notice, the maximum penalty is $2000, with a daily penalty of $200.
The by-laws require testable backflow prevention devices to be regularly tested and maintained in accordance with Australian Standard 2845.3. Where they are not operating in accordance with the prescribed requirements the Water Corporation can serve notice on a land owner or occupier requiring them to arrange for their repair (by a licensed plumber).
(The cost of installation, ongoing maintenance and annual testing is to be negotiated between the owner and the occupier).
The Water Corporation will inspect connected properties to monitor compliance with our backflow prevention policy.
