Benefits to flow from plumbing reforms

• Expanded regulation of plumbing work to reduce risks to public health, safety and the environment
• Amended plumbing legislation will ensure adequate protections across Western Australia, including unmetered water supplies in regional areas
• Additional plumbing inspectors to enforce plumbing laws

The State Government is ensuring all areas of Western Australia receive equal and adequate public health benefits from compliant and efficient plumbing systems.

The Plumbers Licensing and Plumbing Standards Regulations 2000 have recently been amended to adopt the latest Plumbing Code of Australia.

To protect against scalding from excessively hot water, from 1 May 2024, temperature control devices must be fitted when replacing a water heater in an existing installation used for personal hygiene. More than 90 per cent of scalds occur in the bathroom, and young children, the elderly and people with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to these injuries.

The Cook Government is also working on further amendments to broaden the scope of plumbing laws to capture plumbing work undertaken on unmetered drinking water supplies. Water supply plumbing work in regional and remote locations, such as Aboriginal communities, mining camps and farm stays, is currently not regulated.

The proposed amendments will reduce the risk of unapproved plumbing products being installed or cross-contamination between drinking and non-drinking water supplies. Communities in regional WA will have the same level of protection as those serviced by metered water supplies in urban areas.

The amended regulations will also improve the safety of modular plumbing equipment installations (such as bathroom pods and transportable mining accommodation), which will have to comply with applicable standards.

As part of the 2023-24 State Budget, the WA Government allocated funding for six additional plumbing inspectors to ensure improved monitoring and compliance. Funds have also been earmarked for community and industry education.

Comments attributed to Commerce Minister Sue Ellery:

"We are committed to ensuring that the public health risks posed by waterborne contaminants are appropriately managed through robust plumbing regulation.

"These reforms will ensure that plumbing systems are installed and maintained to appropriate standards across Western Australia, regardless of whether you are in a metropolitan, regional or remote location.

"We have also taken steps to ensure the Department is adequately resourced to ensure the safety of Western Australians."