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All Current and Past Media Releases
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Media Release - Department Water and Energy Date: 4 March 2009 IS YOUR HOUSEHOLD BORE OR SPEARPOINT LICENSED? The NSW Department of Water and Energy (DWE) today reminded Sussex Inlet homeowners to ensure their household bore or spearpoint was properly licensed.
Under NSW water laws, all bores, spearpoints and other infrastructure constructed to extract groundwater must be licensed, regardless of the location or end use of the water.
“If you are thinking about constructing a bore or spearpoint to pump groundwater to use around your home or garden, you need to apply for a licence from the Department and use a licensed driller,” said the Department’s water licensing manager, Marwan El-Chamy.
“If you already have a household bore or spearpoint but are unsure whether it’s licensed, please contact the Department’s Nowra office for advice.
“It’s very important that homeowners get a licence for their bore and use a licensed driller, so that the Department can ensure groundwater use is sustainable, protect aquifers from harm, and contact bore owners in the rare event that the groundwater is contaminated.”
Spearpoints are shallow freshwater bores in sandy soil and are relatively common in coastal regions of NSW.
Mr El-Chamy said that bore owners should be conservative with all water use and be aware that groundwater is a limited resource and should be used wisely.
“Sprinklers that run off bore water should not be left running all day and bore water should not be used for cooking or washing food.”
If you suspect that a household bore is unlicensed or being used illegally for commercial purposes, please make a confidential report to the Department via free call: 1800 633 362 or email: watercompliance@dwe.nsw.gov.au.
For further information on groundwater licensing, please phone Wayne Ryan at the Department’s Nowra office on (02) 4429 4442.
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