National Engineering Design Standards

Recent changes to the Water Services Act 2021 enable us to develop National Engineering Design Standards (NEDS) and National Codes of Practice. These tools can be used to set requirements for the design, construction and operational performance of water services networks across drinking water, wastewater and stormwater.

NEDS will contain mandatory performance-based requirements, while the Codes of Practice set out a pre-approved option for how to comply with aspects of the NEDS. Water service providers may also approve alternative solutions that are compliant with the NEDS and any relevant water services bylaw.

Once developed, these tools will apply to water service providers as well as people who intend to transfer water services infrastructure to a water service provider, or connect it to a public network.