State Environment Protection Policy (Waters) and Is Referred to Below As “This Policy”

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State Environment Protection Policy (Waters) and Is Referred to Below As “This Policy” State Environment Protection Policy (Waters) Version for DELWP Legal as at 16 January 2018 TABLE OF PROVISIONS Clause Page PART I – APPLICATION ................................................................................................................................... 3 1. Title ....................................................................................................................................... 3 2. Purpose ................................................................................................................................. 3 3. Commencement .................................................................................................................... 3 4. Revocation ............................................................................................................................ 3 5. Authorising provisions .......................................................................................................... 4 6. Definitions ............................................................................................................................ 4 7. Application ......................................................................................................................... 10 8. Policy area .......................................................................................................................... 10 9. Segments of the water environment .................................................................................... 10 10. Applied, adopted or incorporated matters ........................................................................... 11 11. Policy principles ................................................................................................................. 11 12. Assessing practicability ...................................................................................................... 12 PART II – PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ................................................................. 14 DIVISION 1 – PROTECTED BENEFICIAL USES ....................................................................................... 14 13. Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 14 14. Beneficial uses of all waters ............................................................................................... 14 15. Beneficial uses of groundwater ........................................................................................... 15 16. Beneficial uses of surface water ......................................................................................... 16 DIVISION 2 – ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INDICATORS AND OBJECTIVES ............................... 18 17. The environmental quality indicators and objectives .......................................................... 18 DIVISION 3 – TARGET SETTING ................................................................................................................. 20 18. Developing interim regional targets in priority areas .......................................................... 20 19. Pollutant load reduction targets........................................................................................... 21 PART III – RULES AND OBLIGATIONS...................................................................................................... 22 DIVISION 1 – ALL WATERS .......................................................................................................................... 22 SUBDIVISION 1 – WASTE AND WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT........................................................ 22 20. Management of discharges to surface waters ...................................................................... 22 21. Applications for wastewater discharges .............................................................................. 22 22. Consideration of applications for wastewater discharges ................................................... 23 23. Approval of mixing zones ................................................................................................... 24 24. Use of offset measures to protect beneficial uses ............................................................... 25 25. Discharges that provide environmental benefits ................................................................. 25 26. Management of wastewater reuse and recycling ................................................................ 26 27. Management of sewerage systems ...................................................................................... 26 1 28. Consideration of applications for subdivision and onsite domestic wastewater management ............................................................................................................................................ 27 29. Councils to develop a domestic wastewater management plan .......................................... 28 30. Sewerage planning .............................................................................................................. 29 31. Connection to sewerage ...................................................................................................... 30 SUBDIVISION 2 – MANAGEMENT OF SPECIFIC RISKS TO BENEFICIAL USES............................. 31 32. Planning schemes and permits ............................................................................................ 31 33. Protecting catchment areas used to supply water ................................................................ 31 34. Urban Stormwater ............................................................................................................... 32 35. Management of saline discharges ....................................................................................... 34 36. Minimising impact of irrigation drains and channels on receiving waters ......................... 35 37. Responsibilities of protection agencies for irrigation drains ............................................... 36 38. Management of recreation activities ................................................................................... 38 39. Minimising runoff of pollutants from agricultural activities............................................... 39 40. Works affecting water dependant ecosystems and species ................................................. 40 41. Storage and handling of fuels and potentially polluting chemicals ..................................... 40 42. Management of construction activities ............................................................................... 41 DIVISION 2 – SURFACE WATERS ................................................................................................................ 42 SUBDIVISION 1 – PROTECTING SURFACE WATER BENEFICIAL USES .......................................... 42 43. Management of groundwater risks to surface waters .......................................................... 42 SUBDIVISION 2 – MANAGING CATCHMENT RISKS TO BENEFICIAL USES .................................. 42 44. Commitment to water conservation .................................................................................... 42 45. Native vegetation protection and rehabilitation .................................................................. 42 46. Floodplains and flood detention .......................................................................................... 43 47. Management of roads .......................................................................................................... 44 48. Forestry activities ................................................................................................................ 45 49. Releases from water storages .............................................................................................. 45 50. Dredging and desilting management................................................................................... 47 51. Waste and wastewater from ports, marinas and vessels ...................................................... 47 52. Aquatic Pests ...................................................................................................................... 49 DIVISION 3 – GROUNDWATER .................................................................................................................... 50 SUBDIVISION 1 – PROTECTING GROUNDWATER BENEFICIAL USERS ......................................... 50 53. Prevention of groundwater pollution .................................................................................. 50 54. Direct waste discharge to groundwater ............................................................................... 50 55. Non-aqueous phase liquids ................................................................................................. 51 56. Rising water tables .............................................................................................................. 52 SUBDIVISION 2 – IDENTIFYING AND MANAGING POLLUTANTS IN GROUNDWATER ............. 52 57. Hydrogeological assessment ............................................................................................... 52 58. Groundwater attenuation zones ........................................................................................... 53 59. Groundwater quality restricted use zones ........................................................................... 54 SCHEDULES .....................................................................................................................................................
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