Reporting national water information
National water information helps communities, governments and industry plan and manage Australia’s water resources. Organisations support this by reporting the water information they hold to the Bureau.
Reporting obligations are set out in Part 7A of the Water Regulations 2008. These are supported by incorporated documents and policies.
Checking requirements
To check national water information reporting requirements, use Water Regulations Online. It provides a customised report showing what each organisation needs to provide. Your report includes:
- the data categories and subcategories required
- how often they need to give each type of data
- any format requirements.
The report does not cover water markets obligations. Find out about providing water markets data.
Accessibility
If you need an accessible version of any documents on this page, contact us to discuss your needs.
Who must submit water information
The regulations list 11 categories of 'persons' who must provide water information in their possession, custody or control to the Bureau.
The categories are based on functions, such as 'lead water agencies'. A person can be an individual or organisation.
An individual or organisation may be in more than one category if performing more than one function. For example, operating as an urban water utility and managing a major water storage.
If an organisation uses service providers to collect or store data, it is still responsible for ensuring that information is reported to us.
The categories are listed below. Also see the Persons and classes of persons incorporated document (PDF, 337 KB).
What water information is required
The regulations list 10 categories of water information that individuals or organisations may have to provide. These are divided into subcategories.
File formats and metadata
File formats
Some national water information must be submitted in specific formats. If this applies to you, the required formats are listed in your customised report from Water Regulations Online. (The report does not cover water markets requirements. Find out about providing water markets data.)
The Director of Meteorology sets the approved formats in an administrative instrument (PDF, 561.13 KB). These vary by person category and data subcategory.
You may use any listed format. If more than one is available, use the first where possible. If submission is allowed in 'any format, it must be electronic and machine readable (not scanned documents).
Approved file formats
If you need assistance or templates for any of the following formats, contact us.
Metadata
Check requirements
Metadata and contextual information requirements are outlined in these incorporated documents:
- Metadata and contextual information requirements (PDF, 318 KB) – lists elements for subcategories except those in Category 7
- Urban Water Management Information Requirements (PDF, 580 KB) – lists elements for subcategories in Category 7.
Also see the explanatory notes on this page, which include more details and examples.
When to provide metadata and contextual information
You must provide metadata and contextual information when you submit water information.
Assess what metadata you hold
Check whether you hold any of the required information in your data management system. The lists may not cover all metadata that your organisation collects. We limit the requirements to minimise reporting burden.
If you don't have metadata and contextual information
If your organisation does not hold any of the listed information, you do not need to provide it. You only have to submit information in your possession, custody or control.
Explanatory notes for metadata
For each metadata element, our explanatory notes give:
- a description of the metadata and contextual information element
- supplementary information about the element and relevant examples.
Timeframes
Your customised report from Water Regulations Online shows what timeframes apply for national water information. (The report does not cover water markets requirements. Find out about providing water markets data.)
Timeframes start when data is entered into a data management system – this is when it is considered to be in a person's possession, custody or control.
For example, if data is entered weekly but must be reported daily, you must provide it the day after it enters the system.
Data management systems
A data management system is where you store operational or quality controlled water data. This may be a dedicated hydrometric system or general tools such as spreadsheets or document files.
Data stored only in field data loggers is not considered in your possession, custody or control.
Short-term project information
For projects expected to take:
- 12–48 months, report at the end of each financial year
- less than 12 months, reporting is only required from lead water agencies and other government agencies – that is, organisations in person categories A and B.
Exemptions
If your organisation reasonably believes the data is already in the Bureau's possession, you can apply for an exemption.
Make this application in writing using details on our Contact page.
Explain why you believe we already have the information and provide your contact details.
Incorporated documents and policies
Incorporated documents have effect as though they are part of the regulations. This is made possible by section 256 of the Water Act 2007.
The requirements in these incorporated documents can change. This section also includes the policies we apply when managing changes.
We record changes to the Commercially Sensitive Sites and Persons and Classes of Persons incorporated documents in a Register of changes (PDF, 1.18 MB).
Licensing
For information about applying a licence to your water data, view our Water data licensing page.
You can use content on this page in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence.