Giving Water Information

What water information must I give?

Persons listed in the Water Regulations 2008 need to give specified water information that is in an electronic format and in their possession, custody or control. In most cases this means water information that is in their electronic data management system. Both historical information and new / ongoing information of the specified kinds will be required.

The types of water information to be given to the Bureau under the Regulations have been classified into nine categories of water information; each category is further defined by subcategories of water information.

A tenth category (Category 10) refers to descriptive and reference information about information in categories 1 to 9.

Your organisation

Go to Water Regulations online to find out which categories of water information your organisation is required to provide under the Water Regulations 2008.

Other things to know

There is no requirement on persons to begin collecting new water information or to reformat their existing paper based information into an electronic format.

Persons are not required to give specified water information if they reasonably believe that it is already in the Bureau's possession and they have informed the Bureau in writing of their belief.

There are also special conditions relating to water information collected in projects under four years in duration and water information from short-term projects.

Any water information that is updated or changed will need to be given again.

When do I give water information?

The Water Regulations came into effect on 30 June 2008, and from that time persons specified in the Regulations are required to begin giving specified water information to the Bureau in a staged process. The Bureau has been contacting persons, during their respective interim period, to set up information transfer arrangements.

We are working with persons named in the Regulations to ensure they are fully aware of their potential requirements and assisting them to comply with the Regulations.

Your organisation

In the meantime, named persons are encouraged to become familiar with the requirements placed on them by the Regulations. You can do this by using our Water Regulations online tool to generate a customised report that lists your organisation's requirements, including when you first need to provide water information to the Bureau.

How do I give water information?

For the time being, the Bureau of Meteorology will only require data that is in electronic format, this does not include scanned documents.

Persons named in the Water Regulations 2008 are being asked to complete our online Water Information Survey so we can determined the most appropriate data transfer process with each organisation. This allows water data to be efficiently transferred from your organisation to ours as part of your organisation's requirements under the Regulations.

The Bureau of Meteorology intends to the use the data transfer methods listed below. See also File Transfer Protocol (FTP) details and data file content and naming conventions.

– File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or web services

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is the preferred method for all ongoing information delivery. It is the required method for the delivery of new information except for information on water use (category 5), information about rights, allocations and trades (category 6) and information about water restrictions (category 8). Category 5 and 6 information may also be sent by CD, DVD or on an external hard drive. Category 8 information may be sent by email to waterdata@bom.gov.au. The potential use of Web Services should be discussed with the Bureau.

See also File Transfer Protocol (FTP) details and data file content and naming conventions.

– CD, DVD or external hard drive

These media may be used to transfer historical information and also information on Water Use (category 5), information about rights, allocations and trades (category 6) and information that is only required annually.

– Email

Email may be used to send information about water restrictions (category 8) only. Send this type of data directly to us via email at waterdata@bom.gov.au.