When you need a permit for this activity
You must get a permission from us to conduct certain activities that have risk of harm to human health and the environment. These are called prescribed activities and are defined in Schedule 1 of the Environment Protection Regulations 2021.
Reclaimed wastewater is water from sewerage systems or industry processes that has been treated to an appropriate standard for its intended use. Reclaimed wastewater is also called recycled water.
Under the Regulations, you need an A14 – Reclaimed wastewater supply or use permit for a site supplying or using reclaimed wastewater.
You do not need an A14 permit if you:
- hold an A03 – Sewage treatment or D01 – Abattoirs licence to conduct wastewater activities, and
- discharge or deposit less than 100,000 litres of treated wastewater per day solely to land.
For reclaimed wastewater schemes operating since before 1 July 2021, visit Amendments to A14 transitioned permits.
Exemptions
Under some circumstances, you can apply for a permit exemption.
You may be eligible for an exemption for an A14 permit under regulation 40(1)(a)(i) if:
- you do not generate or supply reclaimed wastewater
- your reclaimed wastewater supplier holds an A14 permit, and
- you only use the reclaimed wastewater for the purposes and circumstances set out in the supplier’s permit.
Exemptions for Class B or C reclaimed wastewater schemes
You do not need an A14 permit if you:
- do not need an A03 licence, and
- discharge or deposit less than 1 megalitre per day of class B or C reclaimed wastewater solely to land.
Related activities
You need an A03 – Sewage treatment development and operating licence to treat, discharge or deposit sewage (including sullage) at a design or actual flow rate exceeding 5,000 litres per day or on any day.
You need an A04 – Industrial wastewater treatment development and operating licence to discharge or deposit industrial wastewater when:
- the wastewater was generated at another site, and
- the design or actual flow rate exceeds 5,000 litres per day or on any day.
You need an A20 – Onsite wastewater management system permit from your local council to construct, install or alter an onsite wastewater management system with a design or actual flow rate of sewage not more than 5,000 litres on any day.
Information to include in your application
When you submit your application in the portal, it must include certain information and supporting evidence. To learn more, visit Apply for a permit.
If you're unsure of the type of permission you need, use our free permission pathway process before you start your application.
For this application, you must also provide:
- a current site plan of your activity site, showing where reclaimed wastewater is supplied or used
- information about the quality of reclaimed wastewater (class A, B and/or C), including relevant supporting evidence
- information about the reclaimed wastewater scheme size (megalitres per day), including relevant supporting evidence
- information about the intended users and uses for the reclaimed wastewater
- a risk management and monitoring program, which must include your health and environment management plan (HEMP) and any other risk management not covered in your HEMP – for example, noise or hydrocarbon storage
- any other relevant information, including consideration of the standards or requirements specified in the Victorian guideline for water recycling.
Health and environment management plan
You must prepare your HEMP following the Victorian guideline for water recycling.
You must operate your reclaimed wastewater scheme following your permit and HEMP.
For all class A schemes and class B and C schemes supplying 1 megalitre or more per day, you must get your HEMP approved by us.
Specific requirements for Class A recycled water schemes
For Class A reclaimed wastewater schemes, the HEMP must also address the requirements of a Recycled Water Quality Management Plan (RWQMP). The HEMP must show the scheme’s ability to consistently produce Class A or fit-for-purpose quality recycled water to meet water quality objectives.
Some recycled water schemes may need endorsement from the Chief Veterinary Officer if there are risks of pathogens affecting livestock. Contact Agriculture Victoria for more information.
Application fee
For a list of current fees and how they're calculated, visit Fees. An extra fee may apply if we need more time than specified in the Regulations to assess your application.
If an application fee applies, we cannot assess your application until we've received and processed this fee.
How long your permit is valid for
Your permit is valid for 5 years.
How we assess your application
Find out how we assess your application and how long it takes.
Permit conditions
Permission conditions outline the legal obligations for the permission holder. They set up a framework for risk management, record keeping and reporting.
Where a condition includes:
- the word 'placeholder', values will be populated with information that's specific to your site
- a reference to a 'figure' or 'appendix', information will be populated that's specific to your site.
'Authority' means Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
Other conditions may apply.
| Condition code | Description |
| PER_G01 | A copy of this permit must be kept at the activity site and be easily accessible to persons who are engaging in an activity conducted at the activity site. Information regarding the requirements of the permit and the Act duties must be included in site induction and training information. |
| PER_G02 | You must immediately notify the Authority by calling 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842) in the event of: a) A discharge, emission or deposit which gives rise to, or may give rise to, actual or potential harm to human health or the environment; b) A malfunction, breakdown or failure of risk control measures at the site which could reasonably be expected to give rise to actual or potential harm to human health or the environment; or c) Any breach of the permit. |
| PER_G03 | You must notify the Authority within 48 hours of the occurrence of any the following: (a) Any change to your name or address (including your registered address and site as applicable); or (b) A change to an officer (as defined in the Act). You must update the EPA Interaction Portal if any other relevant administrative details for your business change. |
| PER_G04a | You must provide the Authority with a Permission Information and Performance Statement (PIPS) in the form determined by the Authority within 2 months of receiving notification in writing from the Authority. The PIPS may be released to the public (in whole or in part). |
| PER_G04b | Information and monitoring records used for the preparation of, inclusion in, or support of, any reporting or notification that is required of you by the Authority (including data reporting, performance reporting, documents evidencing any risk and monitoring program) must be: a) retained for five years; and b) made available to the Authority on request. |
| PER_G05 | 1. You must develop a risk management and monitoring program for your activities which: (a) identifies all the risks of harm to human health and the environment which may arise from the activities you are engaging in at your activity site; (b) clearly defines your environmental performance objectives; (c) clearly defines your risk control performance objectives; (d) describes how the environmental and risk control performance objectives are being achieved; (e) identifies and describes how you will continue to eliminate or minimise the risks in 1(a) (above) so far as reasonably practicable (SFARP); and (f) describes how the information collated in compliance with this clause, is or will be disseminated, used or otherwise considered by you or any other entity. 2. The risk management and monitoring program must be: (a) documented in writing; (b) signed by a duly authorised officer of the licensed entity; and (c) made available to the Authority on request. |
| PER_RW01 | You must keep records of all sites and end users to which you supply reclaimed wastewater. The records must include: a) site addresses of where the reclaimed wastewater is being used; b) quantity and quality of the reclaimed wastewater supplied; c) all monitoring undertaken; d) end-uses of the reclaimed wastewater; and e) the agreement between the supplier and the end user. |
| PER_RW02 | You must take all reasonable steps to confirm that all users you are supplying with reclaimed wastewater are authorised to receive the wastewater. |
| PER_RW03 | You must ensure that reclaimed wastewater is treated to a sufficient quality required for the intended use. |
| PER_RW04 | You must not supplement reclaimed water with other water sources to improve the quality of inadequately treated reclaimed water, prior to discharge or re-use, other than to dilute elevated TDS concentrations or to supplement volumes. |
| PER_RW05 | You must prevent the cross connection of the reclaimed wastewater system to a potable water supply system. |
| PER_RW06 | You must ensure: a) above-ground and buried pipes and outlet taps are coloured purple; and b) external hose tap outlets are marked with a warning sign with the words "WARNING: RECLAIMED WATER — NOT FOR DRINKING". |
| PER_RW07 | You must ensure that above-ground distribution systems are not laid closer than 100 millimetres from potable water pipes and below ground distribution systems are not laid closer than 300 millimetres from potable water pipes. |
| PER_RW08 | You must notify the user of the reclaimed wastewater if there are any non-compliances with this permit. |
| PER_RW09 (specific) | You must notify the supplier of the reclaimed wastewater if there are any non-compliances with this permit. |
| PER_RW10 (specific) | You must develop an emergency blue-green algal response plan. The response plan must detail: a) allowance for alternative supply systems; b) measures to allow the screening or filtering of reclaimed water before supply or application; c) suitable mechanisms to clean and flush the distribution system; d) a blue-green algal monitoring program; and e) threshold blue-green algal cell numbers that trigger contingency actions. The emergency blue-green algal response plan must be made available to the Authority on request. |
| PER_RW11 | Your risk management and monitoring program (RMMP) referenced in condition PER_G05 must include and maintain a Health and Environment Management Plan (HEMP) that is in accordance with the Victorian guideline for water recycling (EPA Publication 1910), as amended from time to time. |
| PER_RW11.01 (specific) | Your risk management and monitoring program (RMMP) referenced in condition OL_G05 must include and maintain a Health and Environment Management Plan (HEMP) that is approved by the Authority and is in accordance with the Victorian guideline for water recycling (EPA Publication 1910), as amended from time to time. |
Manage your permit
To amend, transfer or surrender your permit, visit Manage your permission.
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