Water Industry Act 2012.

This Act, consisting of 116 sections divided into ten Parts and completed by two Schedules, aims to promote planning associated with the availability of water within the State to respond to demand within the community; to promote efficiency, competition and innovation in the water industry; to provide mechanisms for the transparent setting of prices within the water industry and to facilitate pricing structures; to provide for and enforce proper standards of reliability and quality in connection with the water industry, including in relation to technical standards for water and sewerage infrastructure and installations and plumbing; to protect the interests of consumers of water and sewerage services; and to promote measures to ensure that water is managed wisely.
The Minister must prepare the State Water Demand and Supply Statement to assess the state of South Australia’s water resources, to assess current and future demand of water, and to outline policies, plans and strategies relevant to ensuring that the State’s water supplies are secure and reliable.
The Act sets out functions of the Essential Services Commission, appoints Technical Regulators to develop, monitor and regulate technical standards in connection with the water industry, and provides for the establishment of consumer advisory committees.
The Act sets out procedures and requirements for applying for a licence to sell or supply water and to sell or supply sewerage services.
The Act further provides for: appointment of industry officers; management of land and infrastructure; protections and use of infrastructure, equipment and services; protection and use of water supply; powers of industry officers in relation to infrastructure and installations; technical and safety issues; appointment and powers of authorized officers; reviews and appeals; establishment of the Consumer Advocacy and Research Fund; offences; etc.