New Water Policy and Practice Volume 1, Number 2 - Spring 2015 | Page 74

Water Industry (Law) Reforms

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taking action on climate change,
using water wisely,
securing water supplies,
supporting healthy rivers (Waterra 2015).

Through this process the Commonwealth Government was also able to
provide avenues for funding and support to address the water skills shortage and
improving the knowledge of water industry members across Australia, which extend
beyond operations and into cross-discipline problem solving, such as integrated water
resources management (IWRM).
Australian Drinking Water Guidelines

T

o support the government initiatives in water reform, the Commonwealth
Government turned to the National Health and Medical Research Council
(NHMRC) as the source for other key drinking water-related requirements or
best practice. These were driven through extensive revision of the ADWGs through the
adoption of a water management framework linked to water quality health and safety
outcomes. Thereby the AWDGs have become the primary reference on drinking water
quality in Australia (NHMRC and NRMMC 2004).

The NHMRC has, since the introduction of the AWDG in 1972, developed
guidance and recommended standards on water quality for the Australian water industry
(NHMRC and NRMMC 2003). Thus, ensuring that the health of all Australians is not
threatened by poor quality drinking water. The strategic intent of the NHMRC is to
provide leadership and work with other relevant organisations to improve the health of
all Australians by:
• fostering and supporting a high-quality and internationally recognised research
base;
• providing evidence-based advice;
• applying research evidence to health issues, thus translating research into better
health practice and outcomes; and
• promoting informed debate on health and medical research, health ethics, and
related issues (NHMRC and NRMMC 2004).

The Guidelines are developed within the auspices of these key goals, and while
not mandatory standards, they provide the basis for determining the quality of water
to be supplied to all Australian consumers. In the main, they are invoked by State
Governments, the Australian Water Industry, and water management agencies as the
authoritative reference on what defines safe, good quality water, how it can be achieved,
and how it can be assured (Waterra 2015).

Although the ADWG are developed by the NHMRC, they consult with the
NRMMC, and seek to link to aspects of the National Water Quality Management
Strategy (NWQMS). The aim of the NWQMS is to achieve sustainable use of the nation’s
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