About groundwater

Groundwater is an essential resource for our community, especially in the western parts of the region. With no regulated water supply system and limited opportunities for catchment runoff, landholders are dependent on good quality, reliable water for town supply, stock and domestic use, and even irrigation, in some areas.

It is important that we regulate and monitor our groundwater resources to ensure their health and ongoing viability for towns and farms.

At GWMWater, we're responsible for:

• groundwater resource management
• issuing 'take and use' groundwater licences for irrigation and other commercial purposes
• supporting key environmental management strategies
• regulating ground water diversions according to the Water Act 1989.

Groundwater licences

Apply for a groundwater bore

If you're planning to construct or alter a groundwater bore, you need to apply for a licence before you can start works.

Apply for a groundwater bore

Apply for a 'take and use' groundwater licence

To use groundwater for irrigation or other commercial purposes, you must have a ‘take and use’ licence.

Apply for a 'take and use' groundwater licence

Groundwater monitoring

We monitor groundwater across our region in partnership with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).

• The DELWP records information on all registered groundwater bores (including bore construction details, groundwater level and water quality.
• Specific bores are monitored throughout our region collecting data on groundwater levels and quality.
• This information is then uploaded to DELWP's Water Management Information System.

For more information on groundwater monitoring, get in touch and ask for our Water Resources Team.