Town Water Risk Reduction Program

Protecting drinking water safety in regional NSW

What is the Town Water Risk Reduction Program?

The Town Water Risk Reduction Program (TWRRP) is an initiative led by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), supporting regional towns to address long-term water challenges.

The program was designed to address systemic risks in town water supply, including ageing infrastructure, workforce shortages, and ineffective regulatory and governance settings in the local water utilitiies (LWU) sector.

For more information on the overall program, including the other TWRRP components being delivered by DCCEEW, please visit their website.

WaterNSW's component

WaterNSW’s component includes collaboration with local councils and LWUs to proactively manage risks to raw water before it reaches treatment plants.

Our 2026-2028 program focuses on identifying and managing raw water quality risks at the source, before they reach council treatment facilities, recognising that protecting source water is the most effective and cost-efficient way to ensure safe drinking water.

WaterNSW is working in collaboration with regional LWU’s to:

  • Identify catchment vulnerabilities and key hazards to enable drinking water suppliers to manage risks to public health
  • Improve system understanding and early‑warning capability, supporting local water utilities (LWUs) to proactively manage water filtration plants (WFPs)
  • Enhance raw water quality monitoring to improve visibility of emerging risks
  • Provide timely, clear, and actionable water quality information and notifications to support informed operational and regulatory decisions
  • Improve collaboration and information sharing

By addressing risks upstream, the program aims to reduce pressure on LWU treatment systems, lower operational risks, and improve long-term public health outcomes.

What is raw water?
Find out more

Raw water is untreated, unfiltered water collected directly from natural sources like rivers, streams, lakes or underground aquifers. Because it has not been purified, it may contain microorganisms, minerals or pollutants, making it generally unsafe to drink. It is referred to as raw water.

What will we deliver?

WaterNSW’s scope will consist of three key areas:

  • Raw water supply assessment
  • Raw water quality risk mitigation
  • Operational guidance for proactive raw water management

We will deliver:

Raw Water Quality Safety Report: Provides an assessment of raw water quality risks and controls, whilst highlighting key data and tools to support informed decisions and strengthen raw water safety management for LWUs.

Raw Water Quality Safety Guide: Provides key information on raw water quality systems to support operators and water quality managers at Council and WaterNSW in the effective management of water quality. This guide is intended to supplement, and should be read in conjunction with, Council’s Drinking Water Management System (DWMS) and any supporting material Council has in place.

Diagram of Town Water Risk Reduction Program deliverables

Benefits to the local water utilities

The program supports councils and WaterNSW by delivering:

  • A clearer understanding of source water systems and catchment risks
  • Practical tools to support risk-based decisions, including a practical Raw Water Quality Safety Guide for water operators and managers
  • Tailored Water Quality Safety reports to support WaterNSW and LWUs existing water quality management frameworks
  • Stronger preventive approaches to source water protection
  • Enhanced collaboration and knowledge sharing with WaterNSW and councils.

Program rollout

WaterNSW is delivering the program to regional LWUs that source water from:

  • WaterNSW managed dams or
  • Regulated rivers supplied from WaterNSW dams.

Over the next two years, the program will support over 25 councils, with engagement already underway through consultation on our policy on raw water quality for drinking water suppliers.

Working in partnership

WaterNSW works closely with LWUs to ensure the program is practical, operationally relevant and focused on real-world implementation.

The program provides clear guidance, practical tools and targeted outputs to make water quality risk management simpler and more achievable.

Funded by the NSW Government, this support by WaterNSW to LWU is provided free of charge to regional LWUs, helping improve water security, safety, reliability and quality.

Contact us

For more information about the program, please email Info.TWRRP@waternsw.com.au

WaterNSW acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands and waters on which we work and pay our respects to all elders past, present and emerging. Learn more