Product Overview

Summary: This Water Feature Maintenance Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, step-by-step framework for safely inspecting, cleaning, and maintaining fountains, ponds, and decorative water features in Australian workplaces. It helps organisations control slip, electrical, biological and drowning risks while preserving water quality, asset life and visual appeal.

Decorative water features are often central to the look and feel of Australian workplaces, hospitality venues, shopping centres, and public spaces, but they also introduce a range of WHS and public safety risks if not managed systematically. Poorly maintained water features can create serious slip hazards, harbour harmful bacteria such as Legionella, conceal electrical faults, and increase the risk of drowning incidents—particularly where the public or children may be present. This Water Feature Maintenance Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, defensible approach to planning and carrying out all inspection, cleaning, treatment and repair activities in a safe and compliant manner.

The SOP is designed to support duty holders under Australian WHS legislation by integrating practical maintenance steps with risk assessment, isolation and lock-out procedures, chemical handling controls, and clear documentation requirements. It guides workers from pre-start checks and hazard identification through to draining, cleaning, water treatment, filter and pump servicing, and reinstatement of the feature for public use. By standardising how water features are maintained across sites and contractors, this procedure reduces variability, supports consistent training, and helps demonstrate due diligence in the event of an incident, complaint or regulator enquiry.

Key Benefits

• Ensure safe inspection, cleaning and servicing of water features, reducing the risk of slips, trips, falls and drowning incidents.
• Reduce exposure to biological hazards such as Legionella, algae and mould through structured water quality management and cleaning regimes.
• Standardise maintenance practices across sites and contractors, improving reliability, asset life and presentation standards.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS duties, public health expectations and relevant Australian Standards for electrical and water systems.
• Streamline record-keeping and communication between property management, maintenance teams and external service providers.

Who is this for?

• Facility Managers
• Grounds and Maintenance Supervisors
• Property Managers
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Building Services Managers
• Landscape Contractors
• Maintenance Technicians
• Hotel and Resort Operations Managers
• Shopping Centre Managers
• Aged Care and Healthcare Facility Managers
• Local Council Parks and Gardens Teams
• Education Facility Property Officers

Hazards Addressed

• Slip hazards from overspray, leaks and wet surrounding surfaces
• Drowning and immersion risks, particularly for children and vulnerable persons
• Biological hazards including Legionella bacteria, algae, mould and mosquito breeding
• Chemical exposure from water treatment agents (e.g. chlorine, algaecides, pH adjusters)
• Electrical hazards from pumps, lighting, control panels and damaged cabling near water
• Manual handling injuries from lifting covers, pumps, filters and chemical containers
• Confined space-like risks in plant rooms, pits or chambers associated with water features
• Noise exposure from pumps and associated plant in enclosed spaces
• Cuts and puncture wounds from broken tiles, sharp edges, grates and fittings
• Trip hazards from hoses, tools and temporary barriers during maintenance work

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Types of Water Features
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment for Water Features
• 6.0 Required Tools, Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• 7.0 Pre-Start Checks and Site Preparation
• 8.0 Isolation, Lock-Out and Tag-Out of Electrical and Pump Systems
• 9.0 Draining, Water Level Management and Environmental Considerations
• 10.0 Cleaning Procedures for Basins, Surfaces, Grates and Surrounds
• 11.0 Water Treatment, Disinfection and Chemical Handling
• 12.0 Pump, Filter, Pipework and Nozzle Inspection and Maintenance
• 13.0 Electrical Components and Underwater Lighting Inspection (Visual and Basic User Checks)
• 14.0 Recommissioning, System Start-Up and Functional Testing
• 15.0 Housekeeping, Waste Disposal and Spill Management
• 16.0 Controls for Public and Contractor Safety During Maintenance (Barriers and Signage)
• 17.0 Emergency Procedures for Electrical Shock, Chemical Exposure, Slips and Drowning Incidents
• 18.0 Inspection Frequencies, Preventive Maintenance Schedules and Checklists
• 19.0 Record-Keeping, Logbooks and Reporting Requirements
• 20.0 Training, Induction and Competency Verification
• 21.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement of the Procedure

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory WHS Acts)
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory WHS Regulations)
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace
• AS/NZS 3000:2018 Electrical installations (Wiring Rules)
• AS/NZS 4020:2018 Testing of products for use in contact with drinking water (as relevant to water quality components)
• AS 3666.2:2011 Air-handling and water systems of buildings – Microbial control – Operation and maintenance
• AS/NZS 4801:2001 Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still widely referenced)
• Relevant state and territory Public Health or Public Swimming Pool and Spa regulations (as applicable to water features)