GWMWater produces and monitors recycled water to meet strict quality guidelines set by the Victorian State Government and Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria. This water is commonly used for irrigating vineyards, golf courses, racecourses, public parks and other open spaces. We supply Class C recycled water to a range of customers across our service region in the following towns:
| Ararat | Great Western | Nhill | Stawell |
| Birchip | Halls Gap | Ouyen | Warracknabeal |
| Charlton | Horsham | Rupanyup | Willaura |
| Dimboola | Kaniva | Sea Lake | Wycheproof |
| Edenhope | Murtoa | St Arnaud |
In Victoria, the use of recycled water is regulated by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria and must comply with established guidelines. These are designed to work alongside the Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling, which serve as the national reference for the safe supply, use, and management of recycled water schemes.
The guidelines outline the minimum water quality treatment objectives required for different classes of recycled water. GWMWater supplies Class C recycled water, which meets the following standards:
- < 1000 E. coli organisms/100 mL
- < 20 mg/L Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
- < 30 mg/L Suspended Solids (SS)
- pH range: 6–9
Class C recycled water is suitable for a range of non-potable applicationsand can be safely used when managed appropriately.
Approved Uses
Irrigation of:
- Public open spaces with controlled public access e.g. municipal parks, gardens, sport ovals, golf courses, and racecourses. These sites are to be clearly signposted and access managed to avoid contact with recycled water, particularly during and immediately after irrigation when surfaces are not dry.
- Human food crops which are cooked/processed before consumption such as vineyards and olive plantations.
- Pastures for beef cattle, sheep, horses and goats grazing
- Non-food crops, woodlots, turf, flowers, etc.
- Dust suppression
- Industrial wash-down (non-food contact surfaces)
Non-Approved Uses
- Drinking, including livestock
- Uses inside the home
- Cooking
- Personal hygiene (e.g. showers, handwashing, etc.)
- Filling swimming pools or spas
- Swimming, bathing, or wash-down water
- Irrigation of edible crops consumed raw
- Irrigating public open space with unrestricted access
- Irrigating pasture for dairy cattle grazing/fodder
To ensure safety and compliance with EPA Victoria regulations, access to sites using Class C recycled water must be restricted as follows:
- Grains refer to the dry, harvested grain – not grain crop residue with should be treated as direct grazing or harvested fodder.
- Human food should not be directly exposed to recycled water and should be cooked or processed be before consuming.
- Helminth control is 25 days of lagoon detention or an equivalent filtration process such as sand or membrane filtration.
To ensure safe and responsible use of Class C recycled water, the following controls must be applied to all irrigated crops:
Source: Publication 1911-Technical information for the Victorian guideline for water recycling
Reach out to our Recycled Water Systems Officer on 1300 659 961 during business hours or email
More about recycled water
March 2026 recycled water reports for off-site users
 Ararat |
Edenhope |
| Great Western |
Halls Gap |
| Horsham |
Murtoa |
| Nhill |
Rupanyup |
| St Arnaud |
Stawell |
| Warracknabeal |
Willaura |
View 2025/26 recycled water reports
View 2024/25 recycled water reports
View 2023/24 recycled water reports
View 2022/23 recycled water reports
View 2021/22 recycled water reports
View 2020/21 recycled water reports
View 2019/20 recycled water reports
View 2018/19 recycled water reports
View 2017/18 recycled water reports
Annual Water OutlookThe Annual Water Outlook provides information about water security for our customers. The report builds on our Urban and Rural Water Strategy (previously called the Water Supply Demand Strategy) More about our Urban and Rural Water Strategy
|
Previous reports... |
If you have been affected by the recent bushfires, we have compiled the below resources to help you with your water supply:
Drinking water replacement request
Relief drinking water is only available for household-use in fire impacted areas that are not on reticulated (town) water and the home relies on the tank water for domestic use.
Each eligible household will receive up to 20,000L of relief drinking water for essential use. Tanks can be drained before filling to ensure clean water is in the tank.
Protecting and restoring your water tank around bushfire events
Information for the Grass Flat-Telfers Road fire recovery
https://www.hrcc.vic.gov.au/Our-Services/Emergency-management/Grass-Flat-Telfers-Road-fire-recovery
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us on 1300 659 961 during business hours.
For difficulties or faults, call 1800 188 586 anytime of the day.
Stay refreshed!
Fill your water bottle or container at our drinking water trailer and keep hydrated.
Planning an event?
Apply for GWMWater sponsorship and have a drinking water trailer or portable water fountains available at your event.
1. Eligibility
- Open to all community members that live in our service area, excluding GWMWater employees* and their immediate family* members.
- Entrants under 18 must have parental/guardian consent.
2. Theme
- ‘What do you enjoy most about GWMWater’s lakes, reservoirs and weir pools?’
Share your best photos of your favourite spots, moments, or activities with us and be in with a chance to win some great prizes!
3. Entry Requirements
- Each participant may submit up to 3 photos.
- Photos must be original and taken by the entrant.
- Photos must have been taken within the last 12 months.
- Entrant must live in the GWMWater catchment area.
- Camera or phone photography is accepted.
- Submit entries in JPEG or PNG format.
- Minimum resolution - 12 megapixels (MP).
4. Submission Process
- Email entries to:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Name the photo file, Photo Title - Your name - Lake Name.
- Include in the email; your name, town you live, email address, name of lake, and a description of the photo including what you enjoy most about the lake, reservoir, weir pools in the photo (maximum 100 words).
- Deadline for submissions: Saturday 28 February 2026
5. Judging Criteria
- Relevance to the theme.
- Photo must include a GWMWater lake, weir pool or reservoir – see full list below.
- Creativity and originality.
- Composition and visual impact.
6. Prizes
- 1st prize – Major prize $500 gift voucher.
- Prizes 2- 10 – Announced on the first of each month in our Photo of the Month Recognition Program and receive a $100 gift voucher.
- Major winner will be announced on 16 March 2026 on our website and Facebook page.
7. Usage Rights
- By entering, participants allow GWMWater to use their submitted photos for promotional activity across online platforms, social media and printed material.
- Photos may be reproduced for GWMWater projects. Credit will be given when it fits the context.
8. Code of Conduct
- Photos must be respectful and appropriate for all audiences and contain no inappropriate content, such as nudity.
- A signed consent form must accompany each entry for all individuals appearing in the photo. For participants under 18 years of age, the form must be signed by a parent or legal guardian.
- No offensive, discriminatory, or unsafe content will be accepted.
- Lake Bellfield
- Lake Fyans
- Green Lake, Horsham
- Lake Lonsdale
- Moora Moora Reservoir
- Rocklands Reservoir
- Taylors Lake
- Lake Toolondo
- Lake Wartook
Pipeline supplied recreation lakes and weir pools
- Beulah Weir Pool
- Beulah Weir Pool
- Brim Weir Pool
- Donald Caravan Park Lake
- Green Lake, Sea Lake
- Lake Lascelles, Hopetoun
- Lake Marma, Murtoa
- Ouyen Lake
- Rainbow Lake
- Tchum Lake, Birchip
- Walkers Lake, Avon Plains
- Warracknabeal Weir Pool
- Watchem Lake
- Wooroonook Lake
- Yaapeet Lake
General Information
- Participation in this competition is deemed acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.
- *‘GWMWater employees' ‘immediate family’ are not eligible to enter. Immediate family is deemed as any spouse, de-facto spouse, child or step-child residing in the same household as the employee.
- *‘Employee’ means all GWMWater employees, including permanent, temporary, contract, graduates, trainee staff.
- Businesses and its employees contracted by GWMWater to perform works on our behalf in any form are eligible to enter.
- GWMWater’s decision is final and binding, and no correspondence will be entered into.
- It is a condition of entry that winners' names and their location will be made available on our website.
- Any information you provide as part of this competition will be managed in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
- Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water Corporation trading as GWMWater at 11 McLachlan Street, Horsham VIC 3400 ABN: 35 584 588 263.
Terms and Conditions pdf version
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