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Types of water access licences and how to obtain

Learn about the types of water access licences, how to obtain, trade, and change them.

Water access licences

In NSW individuals and organisations, including local water utilities, must have a water access licence and a water supply work approval to take water from a specified source. These authorisations are required under the Water Management Act 2000 (section 60A) and are subject to the conditions outlined in the licence or relevant approval, unless exempt.

Apply for a water utilities licence

Explore the water access licences and approvals section, to learn more about and apply for related local water utility licenses.

Water access licences and approvals

Common local water utilities licences

The primary water access licence types held by local water utilities include:

Local Water Utility access licence with no subcategory 

These licences were issued to local water utilities when their Water Act 1912 licence was converted to the Water Management Act 2000. Water taken under a local water utility licence with no subcategory may be used for any purpose provided the water is delivered directly to that user by the respective local water utility water supply scheme. These licence types are no longer issued, as all Water Act 1912 licences that were held by local water utilities have now been converted.

Local Water Utility access licence with the subcategory 'Domestic and Commercial'

  • Water can only be supplied for domestic and commercial uses
  • Permitted commercial uses are defined in section 66 (3A) of the Water Management Act 2000 as activities within the following categories recognised in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industry Classification (ANZSIC), 1993 edition (Australian Bureau of Statistics publication, Catalogue No 1292.0)—

    (a)  construction (category E)

    (b)  wholesale trade (category F)

    (c)  retail trade (category G)

    (d)  accommodation, cafes, and restaurants (category H)

    (e)  communication services (category J)

    (f)  finance and insurance (category K)

    (g)  property and business services (category L)

    (h)  government administration and defence (category M)

    (i)  education (category N)

    (j)  health and community services (category O)

    (k)  cultural and recreational services (category P)

    (l)  personal and other services (category Q)

Specific licence categories with a sub-category of ‘town water supply’ 

  • unregulated river access licence (subcategory ‘town water supply’)
  • regulated river (high security) access licence (subcategory ‘town water supply’)
  • aquifer access licence (subcategory ‘town water supply’)

As specified in the Water Management (General) Regulation 2018, these licences can only be issued if the water taken under them is to be used for domestic and commercial purposes (see definition above).

Regulated river, unregulated river and aquifer access licences with no subcategory

  • May be used for any purpose regardless of how water is delivered.
  • These licences can only be obtained through the water market or through a controlled allocation order that is made under section 65 of the Water Management Act 2000.

Water access licence exemptions

Several water access licence exemptions are specified in the Water Management (General) Regulation 2018. For more information about water access licence exemptions, go to:

Trading water allocations and changing licence categories

Water licenses and allocations can be traded. For more guidance and support on the process, requirements, and regulations involved in water license trading view the Trading water allocations and changing licence categories.