We're an independent statutory authority under the Environment Protection Act 2017. Our role is to prevent and reduce harm from pollution and waste.
As part of this role, we monitor the quality of Victoria's air, land and groundwater, marine water and fresh water. We also respond to pollution and waste reports from the community and businesses.
Science roadmap
Our science roadmap shows how we engage with innovations in science and engineering to help protect communities and the environment. This includes:
- adopting the latest advances in science and technology
- supporting regulatory excellence
- investing in our scientists and their work
- providing public access to scientific information, support and guidance.
Read our science roadmap:
Monitoring air quality
We started measuring Melbourne's air quality in 1973. We monitor ambient air quality across Victoria, following national and world standards. This includes:
- monitoring general air quality and pollution over a large area
- monitoring local air quality and pollution issues
- rapid response to major and specific pollution events – for example, a bushfire, chemical spill or industrial fire.
Our monitoring network enables us to:
- accurately assess air quality
- create air quality management strategies
- evaluate air quality management activities.
If our air monitoring shows a high pollution reading, we take action. This can include comparing data from other monitors, observing air quality in the area and consulting with other emergency services.
If we measure poor air quality, we inform the community, government and the media. We may investigate the extent and cause of the issue, determine any impact on the community and continue monitoring.
To learn more, visit How we monitor air quality and Check air and water quality.
Monitoring water quality
We protect, monitor and regulate the use of Victoria's marine and freshwater environments. These include bays, coasts, catchments and wetlands.
Our marine water monitoring program assesses water quality. It also identifies and investigates any risks, in order to protect and improve the water quality.
Our freshwater monitoring program identifies any contamination risks, in order to help protect and improve water quality. This includes working with Melbourne Water(opens in a new window) to monitor water quality in the Yarra River. This helps us understand any health risks, identify the pollution and inform future management actions.
For current marine and fresh water quality, visit Check air and water quality.
We also partner with government departments, community organisations and university researchers on research projects to help us understand marine systems. Our research focuses on understanding the processes that control changes in the environment and any impact issues.
To learn more, visit How we monitor water quality.
Monitoring land and groundwater contamination
Land can be contaminated when waste disposal or industrial activities cause pollution. Groundwater contamination is usually the result of poor environmental care and practice, particularly in heavily populated industrial areas.
When land or groundwater contamination happens, the contamination must be managed and cleaned up properly.
Our role is to identify and manage potential environmental risks from contaminated land and groundwater. We do this by conducting risk assessments and overseeing clean-ups of Victoria’s largest and most complex industrial sites. These sites are used by major industry sectors and include refineries, power stations and chemical manufacturing plants. They also often have critical infrastructure that needs our permission to operate.
We also oversee the environmental audit system. We help planning authorities, government, community and industry understand the condition of a site and its suitability for use. Our role includes appointing and monitoring environmental auditors.
We maintain a Priority Sites Register. The register lists sites issued with a current EPA notice to make sure pollution or waste is cleaned up or managed.
We provide information about groundwater quality across Victoria. This includes identifying groundwater quality restricted use zones – areas where there's known groundwater contamination.
Responding to pollution and waste reports
Under the general environmental duty, all Victorians have an obligation to report pollution and waste incidents. These can include reports about noise, odour, dumped rubbish and smoke.
Businesses must also report any incident that causes pollution that harms or threatens to harm human health and the environment – for example, a leak or spill. Businesses must also report a breach of their permission conditions to us.
We review every report to assess the risk of pollution to human health and the environment. We use a risk-based approach to assess and respond to reports. The greater the risk to human health or the environment, the more urgent our response.
These reports help us protect our environment and public health. For example, we use the reports to:
- investigate and monitor pollution incidents
- plan inspections
- prosecute people who break the law
- analyse, monitor and report on trends.
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