WEMP guidelines

A Water Efficiency Management Plan (WEMP) helps businesses and non-residential water users to:

• assess current water use
• identify water saving measures
• prepare a plan to implement the identified water conservation measures.

Some non-residential water users must submit one or more WEMPs under the Queensland Water Commission’s Permanent Water Conservation Measures. All businesses should review water use and identify areas where it can be saved.

There are five different water uses where a WEMP is required:

Premises using 10 million litres or more annually
Premises operating cooling tower/s
Premises irrigating an area of 500m² or more
Premises operating a public swimming pool
Premises operating as a nursery, turf farm or market garden.

If a business fits into one or more of the above categories they are required to submit a WEMP and operate in accordance with the plan.

Premises using 10 million litres or more annually

Water restriction category 7.1

Under Permanent Water Conservation Measures, a WEMP must be submitted for premises using 10 million litres of water or more annually. When water use at a business reaches this target they will be notified to prepare and submit a WEMP.

A business must:

• use water in accordance with the WEMP
• complete an annual online report
• install a sub-meter on individual items of equipment, process or facility that consume a significant proportion* of the total volume of premises' water used
• keep a written record of each sub-meter in accordance with the Queensland Water Commission's WEMP guidelines

The WEMP must also demonstrate a 25 percent reduction in total water consumption, compared to the business' baseline period. If a 25 percent reduction cannot be achieved, the WEMP must show how the site will meet best practice.

To prove best practice, a fully referenced assessment needs to be provided and may include:

• Performance measurement against similar sites that details comparative water use per production unit with industry and best practice standards
• Historical key performance indicators to show how the premises arrived at best practice
• An evaluation and comparison of water use against any available industry-specific water-saving guidelines.

Best practice can also be demonstrated by:

• Examining each water end-use
• Providing details about how each area is operating water-efficiently with detailed analysis
• Justifying how each of these areas cannot be altered to use water more efficiently.

Once a WEMP has been submitted, Annual Reports are due within 20 working days from the last business day of October. You can access your online report here.

Premises operating cooling tower/s

Water restriction category 11.3

A business must operate their cooling tower in accordance with a submitted or approved WEMP.

Where the cooling tower consumes a significant proportion* of the total volume of water used on the premises, sub-meters must be installed on the supply line and bleed valve from each cooling tower, or group, with shared supply. Also:

• for each sub-meter, a written record is to be kept in accordance with WEMP guidelines
• provide a written annual report in accordance with WEMP guidelines

Annual reports are due within 20 working days from the last business day of October. You can access the WG-14 Cooling Tower Annual Report template located on the Queensland Water Commission’s website.

Premises irrigating an area of 500 square metres or more

Water restriction category 12.1

Non-residential premises seeking to use town water for irrigation of a garden and/or lawn area greater than 500m² must prepare an Irrigation WEMP in accordance with the Queensland Water Commission’s Efficient Irrigation for Water Conservation Guideline. They must also:

• install a sub-meter on the supply line of the system
• maintain a written record of water usage for each sub-meter at least weekly
• have the Irrigation WEMP certified by a Certified Irrigation Professional (CIP)
• comply with the irrigation times set out in the Queensland Water Commission’s water restrictions.

Premises operating a public swimming pool

Water restriction category 13.3

Town water can only be used to fill a public swimming pool that recirculates water, when used in accordance with a submitted or approved WEMP.

Premises operating a nursery, turf farm or market garden

Water restriction categories 6.3 residential and 15.2 non-residential

Premises operating a nursery, turf farm or market garden must:

• water stock and production areas in accordance with a submitted or approved WEMP
• display an approved sign.

More information

• Queensland Water Commission on 1300 789 906

• Queensland Water Commission website

• Contact Queensland Urban Utilities by email

*A significant proportion of water is defined as:

• Greater than 15% and less than 85% of total water use for premises using greater than 50 ML per year
• Greater than 30% and less than 85% of total water use for premises using less than 50ML per year