Some communities in remote areas do not have access to reliable and safe water services that meet Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWGs),84 which specify minimum requirements for good-quality drinking water.
There is evidence the outcomes specified in the Guidelines are not regularly achieved, particularly in communities with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.85 The challenge is most apparent in smaller regional communities, which must manage their existing water assets with limited budgets and often ageing infrastructure.86
Providing access to potable water is the responsibility of state, territory and local governments throughout Australia. However, access to water for remote communities has not been consistently managed across jurisdictions.
The Water chapter contains more information about this topic and proposes reforms.