Water in regional and rural WA

The Department has started work on a number of regional water plans to support the State Water Plan. The areas will generally align with Regional Development Commissions, with some variations.

Regional water plans will consolidate available water information and identify necessary actions.

Priorities will depend on current water usage, resource development pressure and knowledge of water resources in respective regions. The first regional plan is being developed for the South West.

The Department manages the Rural Water Planning Program which implements the initiatives under the State's Rural Water Plan.

The focus of the Plan is to:

• encourage self-sufficiency in water supply
• improve the reliability, continuity and quality of on-property water supply, and
• provide rural communities with reliable emergency water supply arrangements.

The Plan also delivers farm water planning and technical support, water deficiency arrangements, strategic public water supplies in dryland agricultural areas, and assistance schemes.