How EPA protects the water environment
EPA helps to protect Victoria's water environments through mechanisms including environmental laws, policies and regulatory controls, and by working in partnership with Victorian communities, including businesses, government, individuals and groups.
Legislation
Water related Acts
This page has information about the Environment Protection Act 1970, which provides the basis for protecting our water environments from pollution, and other water related Acts.
Water related policies
There are two types of environmental policies used to implement the Environment Protection Act 1970: State environment protection policies and waste management policies.
More about environmental policies to protect water
State Environment Protection Policy (Waters of Victoria)
The State Environment Protection Policy (Waters of Victoria) sets the framework for government agencies, businesses and the community to work together, to protect and rehabilitate Victoria's surface water environments.
Risk-based approach to protecting Victoria's waters
EPA adopts a risk-based approach to identify where there may be adverse impacts on water bodies. If a risk to the water environment is identified, action should be taken to address that risk. EPA then identifies actions to improve the water.
More about the risk-based approach to protecting Victoria's waters
Regulatory controls
EPA uses measures provided under the Environment Protection Act 1970 to prevent pollution and protect the environment to the levels required by State environment protection policies. These include works approvals and licences, Research Development & Demonstration (RD&D) Approvals, notices and enforcement.
Working in partnership
The protection and management of the water environment is a shared responsibility. Victoria has in place many effective processes for protecting its waters. These involve a variety of stakeholders, each having different but complementary roles and responsibilities.