Product Overview

Summary: This Water Quality Management Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, practical system for monitoring, treating and recording water quality in Australian workplaces. It helps you control health risks such as Legionella, contamination and chemical exposure while demonstrating due diligence under WHS and public health legislation.

Poorly managed water systems can expose workers, visitors and the public to serious health risks, from Legionnaires’ disease and gastrointestinal illness to chemical burns and respiratory irritation. This Water Quality Management Safe Operating Procedure provides a robust, step-by-step framework for controlling water quality risks across cooling towers, potable water systems, storage tanks, decorative fountains, process water and workplace amenities. Developed for Australian conditions, it aligns with WHS obligations and relevant public health and environmental requirements, giving you a defensible system of work that stands up to scrutiny from regulators, auditors and clients.

The SOP guides your team through risk assessment, routine sampling, testing frequencies, system inspections, corrective actions, documentation and communication. It clearly defines responsibilities between management, maintenance personnel and external service providers, and sets out how to respond to non‑conformances such as test failures, visible contamination or system failures. By implementing this procedure, organisations can reduce the likelihood of outbreaks, protect vulnerable occupants, support safe operations in high‑risk environments such as healthcare and aged care, and maintain consistent, auditable control over their water systems.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent monitoring, testing and treatment of workplace water systems to protect health.
• Reduce the risk of Legionella outbreaks, microbial contamination and associated legal or reputational damage.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS, public health and environmental requirements through clear records and traceable actions.
• Standardise roles, responsibilities and workflows between in‑house teams and external water treatment contractors.
• Streamline audit readiness with structured documentation, testing schedules and non‑conformance management.

Who is this for?

• Facility Managers
• WHS Managers
• Maintenance Supervisors
• Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Coordinators
• Operations Managers
• Aged Care Facility Managers
• Hospital Engineering Services Managers
• Food Production Supervisors
• Aquatic Centre Managers
• Property and Asset Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Legionella and other waterborne pathogens in cooling towers, warm water and potable systems
• Microbial contamination leading to gastrointestinal illness or infection
• Chemical exposure from water treatment chemicals (e.g. chlorine, biocides, corrosion inhibitors)
• Aerosol inhalation from cooling towers, showers and decorative water features
• Corrosion and biofilm build‑up affecting plant integrity and system reliability
• Cross‑connection and backflow contamination between potable and non‑potable systems
• Slips, trips and falls associated with leaks, overflows and system maintenance activities

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Key Terms
• 3.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Guidance
• 4.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 5.0 Water Systems Covered (Cooling Towers, Potable, Warm Water, Process Water, Others)
• 6.0 Water Quality Risk Assessment and System Mapping
• 7.0 Monitoring and Testing Requirements (Parameters, Methods and Frequencies)
• 8.0 Operation and Maintenance of Water Systems
• 9.0 Control Measures for Microbial and Chemical Risks
• 10.0 Non‑Conformance, Incident Response and Corrective Actions
• 11.0 Legionella and Disease Outbreak Response Procedure
• 12.0 Chemical Handling, Storage and PPE Requirements
• 13.0 Contractor Management and Communication Protocols
• 14.0 Recordkeeping, Reporting and Audit Requirements
• 15.0 Training, Induction and Competency Verification
• 16.0 Review, Continuous Improvement and Document Control

Legislation & References

• AS 3666.1: Air-handling and water systems of buildings – Microbial control – Design, installation and commissioning
• AS 3666.2: Air-handling and water systems of buildings – Microbial control – Operation and maintenance
• AS/NZS 4020: Testing of products for use in contact with drinking water
• AS/NZS 5667 (series): Water quality – Sampling
• Safe Work Australia – Model Work Health and Safety Regulations
• Public health regulations relating to cooling tower and warm water systems (state and territory specific)
• Environment Protection Authority (EPA) guidelines for wastewater and trade waste (state and territory specific)