Frequently Asked Questions - Sole applicant groundwater

You can use the Customer Portal to apply for a new approval for one or more water supply works to take groundwater under a domestic and stock right or to amend an existing approval.

You can apply online using our Customer Portal if you are a person or a company/corporation/organisation listed as the owner or lawful occupier of the land on which the water supply work is/will be located.

You need to complete several steps in the Customer Portal. You can view the step-by-step guide (PDF, 1391.03 KB) or watch our how-to video.

A Customer Portal account requires a valid email address to ensure you can submit available applications online, track the application process, manage your profile and amend the status of your work. We encourage individual customers to register for the Customer Portal to manage your water-related matters.

The application process remains the same for a business. If you are a business, and would like to register, please contact the Customer Service Centre on 1300 662 077, Monday to Friday, between 8am and 5pm.

If you (or the company/corporation or organisation) are an existing WaterNSW customer, providing the details of an existing water licence or approval issued by WaterNSW will help us identify you and make sure we don't duplicate your customer record in our database.

All owners listed on the Land Title Certificate, or all lawful occupiers of the land, on which the water supply work is/will be located must be applicants.

Owner of the land

If you are unsure you are the sole owner of the land you can:

• Check the current local council rate notice for the property
• Undertake a land title search through NSW Land Registry Services (fees apply)

If you do not own the land, but anticipate that you will own the land within a reasonable period of time of the date of application, you should apply using a hard copy application form and attach an explanation of anticipated ownership together with documentary evidence.

Occupier of the land

If the application is made as the lawful occupier of the land on which the work is/will be located, it is not necessary for the owners of the land to be listed as applicants.

If the application is made as the lawful occupier, you must attach documentary evidence of lawful occupation, such as a:

• lease agreement (attach just the pages that identify you)
• court order
• easement
• licence or lease over Crown Land
• permissive occupancy

Please note:

• Only the following file types may be attached: .doc; .pdf; .bmp; .png; .jpeg
• File size is limited to 50 MB

Owner & occupier of the land

If your landholding includes a parcel of land you own and a parcel of land where you are the lawful occupier, and you want to construct a work on the land you own, as well as a work on the land where you are the lawful occupier, then you will need to indicate on the online form that you are an owner and occupier. You will need to attach documentary evidence of lawful occupation (examples of evidence are listed above).

Most applicants will only be seeking approval for one water supply work to take groundwater under a domestic and stock right. But you can apply to seek approval for more than one water supply work to take groundwater under a domestic and stock right on your landholding. If you apply online, you can seek approval for up to ten water supply works to take groundwater under a domestic and stock right on your landholding. You will need to provide information about each of the works you are seeking approval for.

You will need to provide various information about each proposed work including but not limited to:

• Location
• Type
• Depth of work if a bore
• Supply to other landholders (if applicable)
• Distance from property boundary and any sites of potential contamination
• Environmental issues

Lot/DP

If you are unsure of the Lot/DP you can either:

• Use SIX Maps, Land and Property Information's spatial viewing tool
• Use NSW Globe, Land Property Information's spatial data tool using the Google Earth application
• Undertake a land title search through NSW Land Registry Services (fees apply)
• Check the current local council rate notice for the property

If the work is an excavation

For the purpose of the application, an excavation is a minor work constructed for the purpose of taking groundwater under a domestic and stock right.

If you propose to construct an excavation for a different purpose then you will need to apply for a different type of approval.

For more information on constructing an excavation for the purpose of taking groundwater under a domestic and stock right contact our Customer Service Centre.

Pumping rate for work

You should provide the maximum pumping rate of the proposed work for taking groundwater, even if you do not plan to operate the work at its maximum rate.

Location from property boundary

You must specify the distance of the proposed work from the property boundary. If a bore is constructed near another existing bore it could have an impact on the existing bore and may affect the level of the water table.

Sites of possible contamination

You must specify the distance of the proposed work from any site of potential contamination that has or may contaminate the groundwater into which the bore will be constructed.

You must not locate a work for taking groundwater near any site of possible contamination which could contaminate the groundwater source. If you propose to construct the work/s near a contaminated site the risk to the groundwater source and the risk to human health must be minimised.

Environmental issues

The information you provide regarding various environmental issues, such as clearing of native vegetation, will assist WaterNSW to undertake an assessment of likely impacts of the water supply work/s during and after construction of the work/s. You may have to seek advice from a suitably qualified person to provide this information if your property is located in a sensitive environment.

You will need to attach a topographic map, aerial photo, farm plan of A3 or A4 size and/or a sketch of your property boundary with the following information:

• Location of property (identifiable by a landmark and with a North arrow included)
• Property boundary
• Location(s) or work(s) proposed in the application
• Location of all existing works on the property. Include bores, pumps, diversion works, storages, channels, flood protection works, etc.
• Location of habitat or vegetation that needs to be cleared or disturbed to construct the proposed work(s).

Note: A photocopy of a topographic map with hand-drawn property boundaries and features is acceptable.

File type/size:

• Only the following file types may be attached: .doc; .pdf; .bmp; .png; .jpeg
• File size is limited to 50 MB
• If you try to attach a file type that is unsupported or the file size is too large, you get an error message and you will need to attach a file type that is supported.

Landholders must engage a driller with a NSW driller's licence of the correct class to construct the bore.

Drillers must sight the landholder's water supply work approval before drilling the bore and must comply with any relevant conditions.

After the bore has been constructed, the driller must complete the Form A – Particulars of completed works providing details of the construction and location of the bore.

The landholder must send the completed Form A to WaterNSW, together with any further information required in the water supply work approval, within two months of completion of the bore.

Find out more information about NSW licensed drillers and the Form A.

A 'Save' button is located at the bottom right on most screens of the online application form. If you're not able to complete an online application in one sitting, click this button and then select 'Logout' located at the top right of the screen. To resume your draft application, open up the Customer Portal. On the Dashboard select the appropriate application located under ‘My applications.’

Yes. Once your online payment has been received as part of the application process, you will be notified on screen that your completed application has been submitted.

You will also be notified by email that your completed application has been submitted.

You will be provided with a unique application number both on screen and in the email that identifies your submitted application.

You can use this application number to view your application (see FAQ 14) and also track the progress of your application (see FAQ 17).

Yes. To view your completed application, go to the Customer Portal and select 'My applications’. You will be able to locate your application in this list.

You cannot make edits to your online application once it has been completed and submitted for processing. If you've submitted your application and need to change it, please contact us our Customer Service Centre.

Applications will be assessed according to WaterNSW's assessment procedures. One of our Water Regulation Officers may contact you (or your nominated application contact person if applicable) if more information is required.

Applications are assessed in five stages. You can check the stage of your application using the Customer Portal (see FAQ 17).

WaterNSW will either determine to grant the application with appropriate conditions or refuse it. Applicants will be notified in writing of the determination and, if granted, a copy of your water supply work statement of approval will also be issued.

To track your submitted application, go to the Customer Portal dashboard and locate it under ‘My applications’. You can check the stage of your application in the table shown on screen.

The fee will be automatically listed in your application at the payment stage.

Find more information on application fees.

We only accept MasterCard and Visa credit cards.

A receipt/tax invoice will appear on screen when you complete the application online. You should print a copy of this for your records. If the receipt page does not appear please contact us our Customer Service Centre.

An approval for a water supply work solely used to take groundwater under a domestic and stock right (other than water from the Great Artesian Basin) has effect until it is cancelled.

The Customer Portal uses the most up-to-date Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption. More information on security is available under Privacy and security.