FAQs - Sole applicant groundwater

You can use Water Applications Online to apply for a new approval for one or more water supply works to take groundwater under a domestic and stock right or to amend an existing approval.

You can apply online using our Water Applications Online service if you are a person or a company/corporation/organisation listed as the owner or lawful occupier of the land on which the water supply work is/will be located.

Download and complete a hard copy application form from our website.

You need to complete several steps in Water Applications Online:

Step 1: On the Water Applications Online homepage select 'Start new application'.

Step 2: Read and agree with the terms of use.

Step 3: Select 'New approval for a water supply work to take groundwater under a domestic and stock right' and read the information about whether you are eligible to apply online.

Step 4: Complete some questions about you (or the company/corporation or organisation) and land ownership/occupation of the property on which the water supply work is/will be located. If you are a legal occupant of the property you will need to attach documentary evidence (see FAQ 8).

Step 5: Enter a valid email address and then verify your email address (see FAQ 5).

Step 6: Enter your contact details and specify whether you (or the company/corporation or organisation) hold an existing approval or water licence with WaterNSW (see FAQ 7). Then specify an application contact (if it is not you).

Step 7: Complete each question in the sections about:

• The land where the proposed work/s will be located
• The details of the proposed work/s (see FAQ 10)
• Environmental-related details (see FAQ 10)

Attach a map/document with required information about your property (see FAQ 11).

Provide the name and contact details of the proposed licensed bore driller if known (see FAQ 12).

Step 8: Read and 'Accept' the terms in the declaration section. If you do not 'Accept', the application cannot proceed. (see FAQ 6 for a holder who is a company/corporation or organisation).

Step 9: Pay the application fee in full by credit card using a secure online payment service to complete and submit the application.

When you apply online you will be asked to enter a valid email address so you can receive email notifications from us regarding the application. You will be asked to verify your email address by clicking on a link in an email sent to the email address you supplied.

The link in the verification email will only be valid for 24 hours so if the link does not work when you click on it, restart the application process again by selecting 'Start new application' in Water Applications Online.

If you do not receive an email in your 'inbox', check to see if it was placed in your 'spam' folder. If the email is not in your inbox or spam folder, please contact us our Customer Service Centre.

When you click on the link in the verification email you will receive a second email confirming your email address. The confirmation email includes a link you can click on to return to the online application form at any time (see also FAQ 13).

Yes. For an applicant who is a company/corporation, the declaration section of the application must be completed in accordance with section 127 of the Corporations Act 2001.

• For a company, two directors of the company, or a director and a company secretary, must both agree to the terms of the declaration.
• For a proprietary company that has a sole director who is also the sole company secretary that director must agree to the terms of the declaration.

For other types of organisations, a duly appointed officer can agree to the terms of the declaration.

During the online application process, the person completing the application on behalf of a company/corporation or organisation will be asked to provide the contact details of appropriate signatories (director/s, secretary or appointed officer) who can agree to the terms of the declaration. The email address entered for each signatory must be a direct company/corporation or organisation email for the person, and not an assistant's email or generic company/corporation or organisation email.

The signatory/s for the company/corporation or organisation will then receive an email requesting they review the details provided in the application form to check they are correct and then complete the declaration section.

If you (or the company/corporation or organisation) are an existing WaterNSW customer, providing the details of an existing water licence or approval issued by WaterNSW will help us identify you and make sure we don't duplicate your customer record in our database.

All owners listed on the Land Title Certificate, or all lawful occupiers of the land, on which the water supply work is/will be located must be applicants.

Owner of the land

If you are unsure you are the sole owner of the land you can:

• Check the current local council rate notice for the property
• Undertake a land title search through NSW Land Registry Services (fees apply)

If you do not own the land, but anticipate that you will own the land within a reasonable period of time of the date of application, you should apply using a hard copy application form and attach an explanation of anticipated ownership together with documentary evidence.

Occupier of the land

If the application is made as the lawful occupier of the land on which the work is/will be located, it is not necessary for the owners of the land to be listed as applicants.

If the application is made as the lawful occupier, you must attach documentary evidence of lawful occupation, such as a:

• lease agreement (attach just the pages that identify you)
• court order
• easement
• licence or lease over Crown Land
• permissive occupancy

Please note:

• Only the following file types may be attached: .doc; .pdf; .bmp; .png; .jpeg
• File size is limited to 50 MB

Owner & occupier of the land

If your landholding includes a parcel of land you own and a parcel of land where you are the lawful occupier, and you want to construct a work on the land you own, as well as a work on the land where you are the lawful occupier, then you will need to indicate on the online form that you are an owner and occupier. You will need to attach documentary evidence of lawful occupation (examples of evidence are listed above).

Most applicants will only be seeking approval for one water supply work to take groundwater under a domestic and stock right. But you can apply to seek approval for more than one water supply work to take groundwater under a domestic and stock right on your landholding. If you apply online, you can seek approval for up to ten water supply works to take groundwater under a domestic and stock right on your landholding. You will need to provide information about each of the works you are seeking approval for.

You will need to provide various information about each proposed work including but not limited to:

• Location
• Type
• Depth of work if a bore
• Supply to other landholders (if applicable)
• Distance from property boundary and any sites of potential contamination
• Environmental issues

Lot/DP

If you are unsure of the Lot/DP you can either:

• Use SIX Maps, Land and Property Information's spatial viewing tool
• Use NSW Globe, Land Property Information's spatial data tool using the Google Earth application
• Undertake a land title search through NSW Land Registry Services (fees apply)
• Check the current local council rate notice for the property

If the work is an excavation

For the purpose of the application, an excavation is a minor work constructed for the purpose of taking groundwater under a domestic and stock right.

If you propose to construct an excavation for a different purpose then you will need to apply for a different type of approval.

For more information on constructing an excavation for the purpose of taking groundwater under a domestic and stock right contact our Customer Service Centre.

Pumping rate for work

You should provide the maximum pumping rate of the proposed work for taking groundwater, even if you do not plan to operate the work at its maximum rate.

Location from property boundary

You must specify the distance of the proposed work from the property boundary. If a bore is constructed near another existing bore it could have an impact on the existing bore and may affect the level of the water table.

Sites of possible contamination

You must specify the distance of the proposed work from any site of potential contamination that has or may contaminate the groundwater into which the bore will be constructed.

You must not locate a work for taking groundwater near any site of possible contamination which could contaminate the groundwater source. If you propose to construct the work/s near a contaminated site the risk to the groundwater source and the risk to human health must be minimised.

Environmental issues

The information you provide regarding various environmental issues, such as clearing of native vegetation, will assist WaterNSW to undertake an assessment of likely impacts of the water supply work/s during and after construction of the work/s. You may have to seek advice from a suitably qualified person to provide this information if your property is located in a sensitive environment.

You will need to attach a topographic map, aerial photo, farm plan of A3 or A4 size and/or a sketch of your property boundary with the following information:

• Location of property (identifiable by a landmark and with a North arrow included)
• Property boundary
• Location(s) or work(s) proposed in the application
• Location of all existing works on the property. Include bores, pumps, diversion works, storages, channels, flood protection works, etc.
• Location of habitat or vegetation that needs to be cleared or disturbed to construct the proposed work(s).

Note: A photocopy of a topographic map with hand-drawn property boundaries and features is acceptable.

File type/size:

• Only the following file types may be attached: .doc; .pdf; .bmp; .png; .jpeg
• File size is limited to 50 MB
• If you try to attach a file type that is unsupported or the file size is too large, you get an error message and you will need to attach a file type that is supported.

Landholders must engage a driller with a NSW driller's licence of the correct class to construct the bore.

Drillers must sight the landholder's water supply work approval before drilling the bore and must comply with any relevant conditions.

After the bore has been constructed, the driller must complete the Form A – Particulars of completed works providing details of the construction and location of the bore.

The landholder must send the completed Form A to WaterNSW, together with any further information required in the water supply work approval, within two months of completion of the bore.

Find out more information about NSW licensed drillers and the Form A.

A 'Logout' link is located at the top right on most screens of the online application form.

If you're not able to complete an online application in one sitting, click 'Logout'.

To resume your draft application, open up the confirmation email you received after verifying your email address (see FAQ 5) and click on the link to return you to the online application form.

Yes. Once your online payment has been received as part of the application process, you will be notified on screen that your completed application has been submitted.

You will also be notified by email that your completed application has been submitted.

You will be provided with a unique application number both on screen and in the email that identifies your submitted application.

You can use this application number to view your application (see FAQ 15) and also track the progress of your application (see FAQ 18 and FAQ 19).

Yes. To view your completed application, go to Water Applications Online and select 'View completed application'.

Enter the application number you received by email and on screen after you submitted your application.

You cannot make edits to your online application once it has been completed and submitted for processing. If you've submitted your application and need to change it, please contact us our Customer Service Centre.

Applications will be assessed according to WaterNSW's assessment procedures. One of our Water Regulation Officers may contact you (or your nominated application contact person if applicable) if more information is required.

Applications are assessed in five stages. You can check the stage of your application using Water Applications Online (see FAQ 18) or our trackNOW phone app (see FAQ 19).

WaterNSW will either determine to grant the application with appropriate conditions or refuse it. Applicants will be notified in writing of the determination and, if granted, a copy of your water supply work statement of approval will also be issued.

To track your submitted application, go to Water Applications Online and select 'Track completed application'

Enter the application number you received by email and on screen after you submitted your application.

Applications are assessed in five stages. You can check the stage of your application in the table shown on screen.

You can also track your submitted application using our trackNOW iPhone app (see FAQ 19).

To track your submitted application using the trackNOW iPhone app, download the free app from the Apple store.

Enter the application number you received by email and on screen after you submitted your application.

There are five stages in the assessment of your application. You will be able to see the stage of your application in the table shown on screen. You will also be automatically notified of the progress of your application during the assessment process.

The fee will be automatically listed in your application at the payment stage.

Find more information on application fees.

We only accept MasterCard and Visa credit cards.

A receipt/tax invoice will appear on screen when you complete the application online. You should print a copy of this for your records. If the receipt page does not appear please contact us our Customer Service Centre.

An approval for a water supply work solely used to take groundwater under a domestic and stock right (other than water from the Great Artesian Basin) has effect until it is cancelled.

If you experience computer problems during a transaction, you must restart the transaction process. If you have already progressed to the 'confirmation of payment' screen, you should contact us our Customer Service Centre as your payment may have been processed.

If you experience any difficulties during the online application process and receive an error message you do not understand, you should contact us our Customer Service Centre.

Water Applications Online uses the most up-to-date Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption. More information on security is available under Privacy and security.