Drinking water guidelines

Page content: Bottled water | Licensed venues and outdoors events | Non-potable water in food businesses | Water carting guidelines | Water conservation

Bottled water

Bottled water quality is covered under the Food Standards Code of Australia and New Zealand

Standard 2.6.2 non-alcoholic beverages and brewed soft drinks (133kb, pdf)
This document is available from the Food Standards Code of Australia and New Zealand website.

Licensed venues and outdoors events

Licensed venues throughout Victoria have agreed to provide patrons free or low-cost drinking water.

Non-potable water in food businesses

The reasons why the water supply to a food business may not be safe may be due to either a temporary interruption to the safety of the reticulated drinking water supply or the source of water is not from an adequately treated drinking water supply. The following guidelines provide information to assist food businesses to ensure that their water supply is safe for food preparation and human consumption.

Non-potable water guidelines for food businesses, January 05 (108kb, pdf)
This document is available from the Food Safety web site.

Water carting guidelines

Consumers who purchase potable water from a water carter need assurance that the water they purchase is safe for drinking.

These guidelines have been developed to assist carters of potable water in Victoria meet their legal obligations under the Victorian Food Act 1984, to ensure the water they deliver to their customers is both safe and suitable, and to provide assurance to their customers. These guidelines should be used by water carters supplying potable water even in emergency situations. If the emergency situation means that the water carter cannot source potable water a boil water notice should be issued if there is any chance that the water is to be used for drinking. Reclaimed water should never be used for drinking.

Water transport guidelines (36kb, pdf)
This document is available from the Food Safety web site.

Water conservation

For more information on water conservation, Melbourne Water, the Department of Primary Industries and the Department of Sustainability and Environment provide comprehensive information.

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