Water Industry Act 2012

If an authorised officer finds any water/sewerage infrastructure or any equipment, product or materials unsafe, the authorised officer may—

disconnect the supply of water to the place, or the collection of sewerage from the place, or give a direction requiring any such disconnection;

restrict the provision of any service;

give a direction requiring the carrying out of work necessary to make the infrastructure, equipment, product or materials safe before any reconnection is made.

Subject to this section, a direction under this section must be given—

in relation to water/sewerage infrastructure—to the water industry entity that operates the infrastructure;

in relation to any equipment, product or materials—to the person in charge of the equipment, product or materials or the occupier of the place in which the equipment, product or materials are installed or located.

A direction under this section may be given by written notice or, if the authorised officer is of the opinion that immediate action is required, orally (but if the direction is given orally it must be confirmed in writing).

A person to whom a direction is given under this section—

must comply with the direction; and

if relevant, must not reconnect or permit the reconnection of the water supply or sewerage infrastructure (as the case may be) unless the work required by the direction under this section has been carried out, or an authorised officer approves the reconnection. Maximum penalty: Maximum penalty: $10 000.