Water – Private Drinking Water

Inspection and maintenance activities

Schools manage their inspection and maintenance activities by first completing a private drinking water supply management plan which identifies the system specific inspection and maintenance activities that are necessary to ensure their private drinking water supply is safe for human consumption. Refer to the Developing a private drinking water supply management plan chapter of the guidance for further information.

Schools activate their routine maintenance tasks (Work Orders) in AIMS and close them out once the maintenance task has been completed. Refer to the AIMS and private drinking water quick reference guide (available on the Resources tab) for further information on work orders and record keeping in AIMS.

If your school is yet to be inducted to AIMS, maintenance tasks should be scheduled into the school’s maintenance calendar.

Routine inspection and maintenance activities

Schools are to undertake regular inspection and maintenance activities to keep their private drinking water supply fit for human consumption.

These activities include:

• cleaning screens and strainers regularly
• conducting regular inspections of tank covers and screens to ensure they are intact
• removing overhanging branches
• cleaning gutters and roofs regularly
• cleaning sediment build-up within the tank (desludge) regularly
• ensuring the tank is structurally sound.

Inspection and maintenance works should be carried out by a Victorian Building Authority registered and licensed plumber or suitability experienced service providers, depending on the works carried out.

Local councils require schools with private drinking water supplies to keep records of system maintenance, inspections and water quality test results for at least 2 years.

Defects

It is the school's responsibility to identify, record, and address system defects in AIMS to rectify the defects.

Schools should refer to their emergency contingency plan in their private drinking water supply management plan if water is unfit or unavailable for human consumption.