- Enhanced plumbing regulation to reduce risks to public health, safety and the environment
- Amended sanitation legislation will ensure adequate protection across Western Australia, including unmetered water supplies in regional areas
- Additional sanitation inspectors to enforce sanitation laws
The State Government ensures that all areas of Western Australia receive equal and equitable public health benefits through compliant and efficient sanitation systems.
The Plumbers Licensing and Plumbing Standards Regulations 2000 have recently been amended to incorporate the latest Plumbing Code of Australia.
To protect against scalding from excessively hot water, starting May 1, 2024, temperature control devices must be installed when replacing a water heater in an existing personal hygiene installation. More than 90 percent of scalds occur in the bathroom, with young children, the elderly and people with disabilities being particularly vulnerable to these injuries.
The Cook government is also working on other amendments to expand the scope of the plumbing statutes to include plumbing work on unmetered drinking water supplies. Water supply installations in regional and remote locations such as Aboriginal communities, mining camps and farms are currently unregulated.
The proposed changes reduce the risk of installing non-approved plumbing products or cross-contamination between potable and non-potable water supplies. Communities in regional Western Australia enjoy the same level of protection as those with metered water supplies in urban areas.
The amended regulations will also improve the safety of modular sanitary facilities (e.g. toilet cubicles and transportable mining shelters), which must comply with applicable standards.
As part of the 2023–24 state budget, the Washington government provided funding for six additional sanitation inspectors to ensure improved oversight and compliance. Funds have also been allocated for community and industry education.
Comments from Secretary of Commerce Sue Ellery:
“We are committed to ensuring that the public health risks posed by contaminants in water are adequately managed through strict sanitation regulations.
“These reforms will ensure that plumbing systems across Western Australia are installed and maintained to reasonable standards, whether you are in a metropolitan, regional or remote location.
“We have also taken steps to ensure the Department has adequate resources to ensure the safety of Western Australians.”
www.wa.gov.au
https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook-Labor-Government/Benefits-to-flow-from-plumbing-reforms–20230630
