Town Water

The provision of water supply and sewerage services to country towns in New South Wales is the responsibility of local government under the Local Government Act 1993.

Local Government through local water utilities provides water supply and sewerage services to over 1.7 million people - 30% of the state’s population.

About the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program

The Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program commenced in 1994.

The Department provides technical, management and financial support to local water utilities through the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program.

In 2007 the NSW Government increased the funding allocation to the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program from $855 million to more than $1 billion. To date, $730 million has been allocated to projects.

The Program has enabled completion of more than 300 water supply and sewerage projects delivering enhanced public health, improved environmental outcomes and security of supply to more than one million people living in country areas of NSW.

Emergency drought relief funding

The Government has also provided funding for emergency drought relief works to ensure that towns do not run out of water.

So far, more than $40 million has been committed to emergency drought projects assisting more than 70 communities across rural and regional NSW.