Water resources | Western Australian Government

Government of Western Australia

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Managing water use, protecting our waterways and promoting water sustainability.

Access the Geomorphic Wetlands dataset

This dataset describes the wetlands of the Swan Coastal Plain representing two main aspects, physical classification and environmental evaluation.

Allanooka–Casuarinas groundwater investigation

We investigated groundwater resources in the Allanooka and Casuarinas subareas between Dongara and Geraldton from 2007 to 2011

Apply for a Community Stewardship Grant

These grants support community-based projects that serve to protect and restore the local environment.

Apply for a Swan Canning Riverpark development, permit or commercial activity

Apply for development applications, commercial operator licences and permits for use in Swan Canning Riverpark.

Apply for a water licence or permit

You may need a water licence for taking or interfering with surface water, overland flow water or groundwater.

Calculate water requirements for commercial crop production

The Irrigation Calculator provides broad guidance for water requirements of commercial crops produced in Western Australia.

Check current river levels, rainfall levels and flood warnings

The Department of Water and Environment Regulation monitors river levels and rainfall to help prepare flood forecasts and warnings to Western Australia's communities.

Check garden bore water restrictions

Check bore sprinkler restrictions, rosters and exemption criteria

Check Perth groundwater information

The Perth Groundwater Map has been designed to help water-bore drillers, irrigators, and private householders establish groundwater bores in the watertable aquifer.

Check surface and groundwater data

View water sampling information via a map-driven system.

Cockburn groundwater allocation plan

The 2021 Cockburn groundwater allocation plan guides our management of groundwater resources to support both water users and the ecosystems that depend on groundwater.

Cowaramup groundwater investigation

As part of our State Groundwater Investigation Program, we investigated the groundwater resources in the Cowaramup area to improve our understanding and help revise the volume of water available for sustainable, future use.

Dampier Peninsula groundwater investigation

This groundwater investigation aimed to improve our understanding of the Dampier Peninsula’s groundwater resources and how they support groundwater-dependent ecosystems north and east of Broome.

Development in public drinking water source areas

Information about managing development in public drinking water source areas.

Download spatial data

Spatial data collected by Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.

Drainage for Liveability

Finding ways to work collaboratively and better use green spaces around drains and drainage infrastructure.

Drinking water matters

Safe drinking water is essential for life. Drinking water for cities and towns in Western Australia comes from natural sources, seawater desalination and recycled water.

Drinking water source protection reports - A to B

Reports for public drinking water source areas, listed by source name

Drinking water source protection reports - C to D

Reports for public drinking water source areas, listed by source name

Drinking water source protection reports - E to K

Reports for public drinking water source areas, listed by source name

Drinking water source protection reports - L to M

Reports for public drinking water source areas, listed by source name

Drinking water source protection reports - N to Q

Reports for public drinking water source areas, listed by source name

Drinking water source protection reports - R to Z

Reports for public drinking water source areas, listed by source name

East Midlands groundwater investigation

The East Midlands investigation will help us provide certainty for agricultural water supply while balancing the environmental and social values that depend on groundwater.

Fitzroy groundwater investigation

The Fitzroy River and surrounding catchment is an important part of the Kimberley with nationally recognised cultural, environmental and economic values.

Gingin Brook and groundwater interaction

Part of our State Groundwater Investigation Program, this project significantly improved our understanding of how the Gingin Brook interacts with the groundwater system.

Gingin–Cowalla groundwater investigation

Part of our State Groundwater Investigation Program, this investigation was initiated to help manage the groundwater resources around Seabird.

Gnangara groundwater allocation plan

The 2022 Gnangara groundwater allocation plan sets out how we will manage the Gnangara groundwater system – Perth’s largest natural water resource – to continue adapting to climate change.

Groundwater investigations

Western Australia relies on groundwater for drinking water supplies, irrigated agriculture, industry, mining, economic development and liveable communities more than any other state in the country. Groundwater is also essential for the natural environment to flourish.

Groundwater investigations - Mid West Gascoyne region

Details of our active and completed groundwater investigations in the Mid West Gascoyne region.

Groundwater investigations - North West region

Details of our active and completed groundwater investigations in the North West region

Groundwater investigations - Perth-Peel region

Details about our active and completed groundwater investigations in the Perth-Peel region

Groundwater investigations - South Coast region

Details of our active and completed groundwater investigations in the South Coast region of Western Australia.

Groundwater investigations - South West region

Details of our active and completed groundwater investigations in the South West region of Western Australia.

Groundwater investigations - Statewide

Details of our active and completed statewide groundwater investigations

Groundwater investigations technical reports

A list of our published and unpublished technical reports on completed groundwater studies.

Groundwater modelling optimisation partnership

This project provided workflows, tools and modelling capacity to enable more efficient modelling practices and reduce run times for regional-scale groundwater models.

Groundwater telemetry trial

We began a groundwater telemetry trial in 2019, funded by the State Groundwater Investigation Program.

Hamersley Ranges groundwater assessment

We undertook the desktop Hamersley Ranges assessment as part of the statewide Royalties for Regions Regional Water Availability program.

Kings Park Formation groundwater investigation

We investigated the Kings Park Formation in partnership with the Western Suburbs Regional Organisation of Councils and the Town of Cambridge.

La Grange and Walyarta groundwater-dependent ecosystems investigation

The La Grange investigation is part of our State Groundwater Investigation Program

Land use compatibility tables for public drinking water source areas

Information about appropriate land uses and activities within public drinking water source areas.

Managing water resources related to onshore petroleum activities

We regulate the taking of water for the purposes of exploring and extracting onshore petroleum where that water is sourced from a proclaimed groundwater or surface water resource.

Mid West groundwater-dependent ecosystem vulnerability groundwater investigation

This investigation was undertaken from 2009 to 2012 as part of our flagship State Groundwater Investigation Program and the Australian Government’s Water Smart Australia program.

Murchison palaeochannels groundwater investigation

The Murchison palaeochannels groundwater investigation, funded through Royalties for Regions Regional Water Availability program, has pieced together the information we need as a first step to understand these hidden water resources.

Murray-Peel groundwater investigation

We investigated the Murray-Peel area as part of our State Groundwater Investigation Program

National On-Farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme

The Western Australian Government has reached an agreement with the Federal Government to provide funding to farmers who applied under the National On-Farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme.

North Gingin groundwater investigation

The findings from this investigation helped develop the Gingin groundwater allocation plan.

North Gnangara groundwater investigation

The project was part of our State Groundwater Investigation Program and the Australian Government’s Water Smart Australia program.

North-East Corridor and Swan Valley groundwater investigation

This investigation aims to refine our understanding of the groundwater system in the North-East Corridor and Swan Valley

Online mapping tool for public drinking water source areas

This tool provides data on the public drinking water source areas in WA.

Parliamentary inquiry into recreation within drinking water catchments

Inquiry to investigate the impacts of recreation in public drinking water source areas.

Perth Region Confined Aquifer Capacity (PRCAC) study

This study investigated the capacity for continued groundwater abstraction from the deep Leederville and Yarragadee aquifers.

Program: Waterwise Perth action plan

A Waterwise Perth is cool, liveable, green and sustainable – a place where people want to live, work and spend their time.

Public drinking water source areas

Information about Western Australia's public drinking water source areas.

Rainfall and dam levels in Western Australia

Check rainfall and dam levels and find out how declining rainfall is affecting the amount of water in our dams.

Rebalancing Our Groundwater

Rebalancing Perth and Mandurah’s groundwater resources in response to climate change

Recreation within public drinking water source areas on Crown land

Our drinking water sources require protection from contamination risks associated with recreation activities.

Scott coastal plain groundwater investigation

We investigated the Scott coastal plain as part of our State Groundwater Investigation Program

Shallow Groundwater Systems investigations – Perth

We investigated 10 representative wetlands on the Swan coastal plain to better understand how groundwater supports the environment.

South West (Scott River) groundwater investigation

This investigation has significantly improved our understanding of groundwater resources in the South West.

South West groundwater areas investigation

This investigation improved our understanding of how the environment connects to groundwater and expanded the monitoring network.

South West regional reconnaissance groundwater investigations

As part of our State Groundwater Investigation Program we investigated the Yarragadee, Leederville and Superficial aquifers to improve our understanding of these groundwater resources.

Statewide seawater interface investigations

The statewide seawater interface investigations are funded by the State Groundwater Investigation Program

Submit requests for water planning advice

Advice is provided to decision making authorities and considers potential impacts on the State’s water resources from future land planning and development proposals.

Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme

The Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme provides consumers with information on the water efficiency of appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and showers.

Water for Pilbara Cities groundwater investigation

As part of the $25 million Royalties for Regions program, we completed extensive groundwater investigations from the Great Southern to the Kimberley, including the $12.5 million Water for Pilbara Cities investigation.

Water quality guidance

Information and examples about how to protect water quality for your project, development or activity.

© Government of Western Australia 2017 to 2022