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 .....................................................................................................................................................