Safe Drinking Water Act 2011 (DHW 2024-25 Annual Report)

Part 8 – Miscellaneous

S 50 – Agreement and consultation with local government sector

1. The Minister must take reasonable steps to consult with the LGA from time to time in relation to the administration and enforcement of this Act.
2. If the Minister and the LGA enter into an agreement with respect to the exercise of functions under this Act by councils, then the Minister must prepare a report on the matter and cause copies of the report to be laid before both Houses of Parliament.
3. A report under subsection (2) must be accompanied by a copy of any relevant written agreement between the Minister and the LGA.
4. The Minister must consult with the LGA before a regulation that confers any function on councils is made under this Act.
5. The annual report of the Minister under this Act must include a specific report on—
   1. the outcome of any consultation undertaken under subsection (1) or (4); and
   2. the operation of any agreement referred to in subsection (2).

S 51 – Annual report by Minister

1. The Minister must, on or before 30 September in each year, prepare a report on the operation of this Act for the financial year ending on the preceding 30 June.
2. The Minister must, within 6 sitting days after completing a report under subsection (1), cause copies of the report to be laid before both Houses of Parliament.

S 52 – Annual reports by enforcement agencies

1. An enforcement agency (other than the Minister) must, on or before 30 September in each year, furnish to the Minister a report on the activities of the enforcement agency under this Act during the financial year ending on the preceding 30 June.
2. The Minister must, within 6 sitting days after receiving a report under subsection (1), cause copies of the report to be laid before both Houses of Parliament.

The objectives of the Safe Drinking Water Act 2011 (the Act) and Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2012 (the Regulations) are to:

• ensure that drinking water supplied to the South Australian public is safe
• provide direction to drinking water providers on how to achieve a safe drinking water supply
• implement principles of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2011 (ADWG).

The Act requires:

• registration of drinking water providers
• development and implementation of Risk Management Plans (RMPs) for individual drinking water supplies including approved monitoring programs and incident protocols
• audit or inspection of drinking water supplies
• reporting of incidents to the department
• provision of water quality results to the public on request.

The department administers the Act with assistance from local government. Annual reports of council activities are provided in Appendix 3. Within the Department, the Water Quality Unit is responsible for day-to-day administration of the Act with assistance from the Food Safety and Audit and Regional Public Health teams (formerly known as the Health Protection Operations).

Registration of drinking water providers

During 2024-25, the Department registered 21 new drinking water providers and deregistered six drinking water providers. The unprecedented dry conditions in 2024-25 resulted in an increase (15) in water carter drinking water provider registrations. At 30 June 2025, there were 178 drinking water providers registered with the Department. Some providers include multiple drinking water supplies under one registration. SA Water has a dual registration which includes a total of 90 water supplies while the Department for Education’s single registration includes 116 schools and preschools.

As required under Section 11 of the Act, the Department maintains a list of registered drinking water providers on the SA Health website. Councils are advised of drinking water providers within their area on a minimum annual basis.

Risk management plans

All drinking water providers must have a Risk Management Plan (RMP) that includes an approved monitoring program and incident protocol.

During 2024-25, the Department reviewed draft RMPs for drinking water providers seeking registration and amendments to RMPs from registered providers. Amendments to an RMP can be required in response to changes introduced by drinking water providers or to rectify non-compliance identified as part of a drinking water inspection or audit.

Water quality incidents

Under Section 13 of the Act, a drinking water provider’s RMP must include a procedure for identifying, notifying, and responding to water quality incidents. The department receives notification of incidents and provides advice and direction on remedial actions required to maintain safety of drinking water supplies.

Incidents reported by SA Water

SA Water incidents are reported according to the interagency Water/Wastewater Incident Notification and Communication Protocol (the Protocol). The department maintains the Protocol and provides the Water Incident Coordinator. Incidents are classified as Priority Type 1, Type 1, or Type 2 health incidents.

• Priority Type 1 incidents are likely to require an immediate interagency meeting to develop responses and consider possible issuing of public advice. In the absence of appropriate interventions these incidents could cause serious risk to human health
• Type 1 water quality incidents, in the absence of appropriate intervention could cause serious risk to human health
• Type 2 incidents represent a low risk to human health but may provide preliminary warnings of more serious incidents.

The total number of incidents notified by SA Water during 2024-25 (138) has decreased since 2023-24 (179), with no Priority Type 1 incidents raised during this period.

Compared to 2023-24 (26) there was an increase in incidents during 2024-25 (38) for detection of contamination in source waters and distribution system water tanks. The latter followed implementation of an enhanced tank inspection program in 2024-25. These incidents were managed effectively and did not have a measurable impact on drinking water quality.

The number of incidents (7) for drinking water reservoirs open to recreational activities has increased since 2023-24 (3) with most involving non-compliant water access including swimming. These incidents did not have a measurable impact on drinking water quality. High concentrations of the toxic cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii were detected for the second year in a row in Lake Alexandrina leading to advice being issued not to use the Goolwa Channel for swimming and diving. Lake Alexandrina is not used as source of drinking water.

The number of reported incidents for elevated cyanobacteria concentrations in drinking water source waters including River Murray and reservoirs decreased from 19 in 2024-25 compared to 26 detections in 2023-24.

Reduced rainfall events contributed to a decrease in reported detection of enteric protozoa (Cryptosporidium and Giardia) in drinking water catchments and source waters from 31 reported incidents in 2023-24 to 14 reported incidents in 2024-25. There were three incidents at drinking water treatment plants involving detection of enteric protozoa including one in treated product water (Cryptosporidium) and two at the inlets to treatment plants. Protozoa were not detected in follow up samples. No faults were detected from the continuous monitoring of treatment plant performance during the periods when the protozoa were detected.

There was a decrease in the number of detections of E.coli in drinking water samples in 2024-25 from eight compared to 14 detections in 2023-24. Detections were low-level and in isolated samples, with follow-up samples clear of E.coli. Overall compliance of E.coli monitoring remained high.

Other Type 1 incidents included:

• infrequent exceedances of health-related chemical and radiological guideline values
• elevated concentrations of disinfection by-products in drinking water
• short-term interruptions to disinfection
• cross-connection between a drinking water main and non-drinking water
• small clusters of dirty water complaints

The department coordinated communication and responses for all reportable incidents and liaised with SA Water to ensure remedial actions or responses were implemented in a timely manner to ensure the protection of public health was maintained at all times.

Incidents reported by other drinking water providers

In 2024-25 there were 11 drinking water incidents reported to the Department by providers other than SA Water.

Eight incidents were due to the detection of E.coli in their drinking water supplies with the majority sourced from rainwater tanks. Two of these incidents occurred at the same site where the Department worked closely with this provider as part of the incident management process. A full decontamination of the system was conducted after the positive E.coli result and the follow-up sample was clear.

Other incidents included a chlorine over-dose and elevated turbidity, which occurred at the same site and a UV disinfection failure that occurred at a separate site. In all cases remedial actions were immediately implemented to ensure a safe drinking water supply.

Approval of auditors and inspectors

Auditors and inspectors are approved under Section 15 of the Act in line with established competency criteria. Approval as either a Level 1 or 2 Auditor or Level 3 Inspector is based on technical skills and experience. The types of drinking water supply that can be audited or inspected by an individual are defined in approval conditions. In 2024-25, the Department:

• approved two Level 2 Auditors
• reapproved two Level 2 Auditors and two Inspectors following expiry of existing approvals
• provided support for local government auditors and inspectors
• provided on-site training for local government Environmental Health Officers considering becoming approved auditors or inspectors.

At 30 June 2025, there were 32 approved auditors and inspectors including independent auditors, department staff and local government employees. The department maintains a list of approved auditors and inspectors on the SA Health website.

Audits and inspections

The Act requires that all drinking water providers be subject to an audit or inspection every year or every two years as described in a schedule published in the Government Gazette. Under Section 20(4) of the Act, the drinking water provider is responsible for ensuring the audit or inspection is conducted in accordance with the published schedule. Reports of all audits and inspections are required to be submitted to the Department within 21 days of the audit or inspection being undertaken.

The Water Quality Unit oversees the audit and inspection program. Where possible drinking water audits and inspections are coordinated with the activities from teams within the Department (Food Safety and Audit and Regional Public Health) to reduce impacts on providers. Local government and independent auditors also perform audits and inspections. Where required Dairysafe undertakes inspections of independent drinking water supplies used by dairy processors as part of existing food safety audit activities.

Fees for drinking water audits and inspections undertaken by the Department were introduced in December 2023. Charging fees for regulatory inspections is standard practice and is implemented by the Department, other Government agencies and local councils for other types of inspections and audits. Some local councils and independent auditors and inspectors charge for undertaking drinking water audits and inspections. The introduction of fees by the Department promotes consistency in practices and remove the disincentive for entry of other auditors/inspectors. Fees are categorised based on classes of drinking water providers ranging from level 1 – 3. These levels reflect the complexity and size of the provider or water supply and for 2024-25 the fees ranged from $215 to $646.

During 2024-25 there were a total of 61 audits and inspections of drinking water supplies (Table 1). This included 25 audits, and 36 inspections conducted by the Department. Three audits and 13 inspections were conducted by local government and independent auditors including a comprehensive audit of SA Water. The number of audits and inspections undertaken by the Department was higher than 2023-24 when 52 were conducted. Factors including resource and staffing limitations impacting regional travel have contributed to the reduced number of completed audits and inspections. Audits and inspections of drinking water providers rated as ‘high risk’ were prioritised during the reporting period (Table 1).

Audits and inspections led to advice being given to a number of drinking water providers about actions to improve operation and management of drinking water supplies. Non-compliances identified in 2024-25 included incomplete or insufficient RMPs, improvements required for operational and verification water quality monitoring, infrastructure improvements and lack of detail or absence of documentation relating to maintenance activities and water quality monitoring.

Table 1: Audits and inspections based on risk ratings

Follow-up processes including changes in inspection/audit frequencies were implemented by the Department as required to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Act. The department maintains a database of non-compliances reported as an outcome of audit and inspection of drinking water providers.

Quality of water and provision of results

Under Section 27 of the Act, drinking water providers must make results of any monitoring program available to the public.

SA Water provides consumers with water quality information through publication of data on their website and in their annual report. Other drinking water providers can provide results to consumers on request by letter, email, or telephone.

Approval of laboratories

No laboratories were approved during the reporting period. Approved water quality testing laboratories are listed on the SA Health website.

Administration and enforcement

Part 7 of the Act incorporates enforcement provisions including the appointment of authorised officers with appropriate qualifications and experience by enforcement agencies. In addition, an Instrument of Authorisation was signed by the Minister in March 2020 giving authorised officers authority to issue expiation notices pursuant to the Expiation of Offences Act 1996 for offences allegedly committed against the Act and Regulations.

There were no new appointments made within the Department during 2024-25. At 30 June 2025 there were 11 authorised officers. Authorised officers appointed by local government are provided in council annual reports (Appendix 3).

Consultation with the local government sector

Under Section 50 of the Act, the Minister must take reasonable steps to consult with the LGA from time to time in relation to the administration and enforcement of the Act. During 2024-25 the Department continued to support local councils in the administration and enforcement of the Act, undertaking routine drinking water audits and inspections and providing assistance with complex water quality issues and other routine enquiries. Training was arranged for council officers considering becoming auditors or inspectors.

Reporting required under the Carers’ Recognition Act 2005

The Department is an applicable organisation for the purposes of the Carers Recognition Act 2025. Under Section 6 of the Act, the department is to ensure all SA Health employees have an awareness and understanding of the principles of the Carers Charter, which promotes consultation with carers in policy, program development, strategic and/or promotional planning.

SA Health’s commitment to partnering with Carers is demonstrated through the Partnering with Carers Policy which sets out the mandatory requirements to enable and support Carers role in the healthcare system, and activities undertaken to support compliance with Section 6 of the Act.

The Department’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Access All Areas Resource Group was established in April 2024. The Reference Group is employee led with voluntary membership of passionate employees and enables a consultative forum and supportive network to discuss disability, accessibility and employees with caring roles in our workplace.  It also enables discussion on the progression of the Department’s DEI 2024-2026 Strategy, which includes providing insights and input into the development and implementation of initiatives, policies, and strategies aimed at promoting diversity, inclusion, and belonging within our organisation.

In April 2025, the Department Executive Committee approved the pursuit of the Carer-Inclusive Workplace Initiative for the Department. This is a national program designed to foster supportive and inclusive work environments for the nation's approximately 3 million unpaid carers. There are currently no known SA public sector agencies pursuing the initiative which presents the opportunity for the Department to become an early adopter in this area of inclusion.

On 1 October 2024, SA Health participated as an exhibitor at the Carers Expo with staff representatives from the Department’s Safety and Quality Unit in collaboration with a record number of SA Health teams at the expo in Adelaide’s South.  The Department’s Aboriginal Health also provided merchandise to raise awareness for expo attendees and support Aboriginal Carers. The teams and their expertise were invaluable, providing guidance, direction and information to support Carers whilst caring for their loved ones in our health services from SA Dental, Lived Experience - Office of Chief Psychiatrist, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) Collaborative, BreastScreen SA and Palliative Care Connect. Carer resources were updated and available at the Carers Expo, and on the SA Health webpage at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/carers

National Carers Week in October 2024 is a time to recognise the many employees who balance caregiving responsibilities alongside their professional roles. This year we highlighted inspiring stories shared by Ana, Leanne, and Sarah from the Department.

Two morning tea events were held on 17 October 2024 and hosted by the Department’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Access All Areas Employee Resource Group at Citi Centre and Australian Bragg Centre to acknowledge, recognise the importance of carers and to celebrate employees with caring responsibilities. Main foyer displays in both centres provided staff with Carer information and resources.

In May 2025, the Department’s Safety and Quality collaborated with Carers SA and Central Adelaide Local Health Network to present Partnering with Carers.  The presentation included a Carer’s story, national and state agenda, context on legislation and policy, key priorities, about Carers SA, National Carer Strategy and Survey, partnership between Central Adelaide LHN and opportunities for LHNs to partner with Carers SA. Over 45 participants attended the online forum including consumers, Carers, consumer engagement leads, and governing board members.  The presentation was well received, and following the presentation several LHNs have reached out to collaborate directly with Carers SA in their local areas.