mywater FAQs

Below are some Frequently Asked Questions about mywater.

If you have a question that isn’t answered below, please feel free to get in touch at dew.mywater@sa.gov.au or call us on 08 7133 7333 during business hours.

mywater Portal / mywater Login

South Australia has a new online portal – mywater

• mywater is a new portal that allows South Australian water users and water businesses to do their water related business with government online.

What can I do in mywater?

Use mywater to:

• Submit a meter read.
• Monitor water allocations and entitlements.
• Apply to transfer or trade water.
• Apply for well construction permits and lodge well completion reports.
• Apply for water affecting activity permits.
• Apply for, vary, or renew well drillers licences.
• Apply for or vary site use / water resource works approvals.
• Check an application status.
• Make payments.
• Provide notifications for installed, replaced, moved, repaired, or removed water meters.

You can use mywater to manage these things yourself, or complete the necessary paperwork and authorise another person/s to request a mywater login so that they can manage your water activities online on your behalf.

Do I need a mywater login?

• You require a mywater login if you wish to manage your water instruments or you are authorised to manage someone else’s water instruments online, via the mywater portal.
• While South Australia’s water users and businesses transition to mywater, you can still do your water business with us - for now - via our familiar offline forms. DEW staff are available to offer support by email or telephone.
• Once you are set up to use mywater, you will be able to take advantage of faster processing, the convenience of online payments, and the ability to track the progress of your application online anytime.

Who can request a mywater login?

• Water users who want to use mywater need to request a mywater login.
• Likewise, water businesses that want to use mywater will need to authorise specific employees or representatives to request a login on behalf of the business.
• To make the most of mywater’s capabilities (e.g. pre-population of applications with details relating to instruments; online payments, water account balances) people with a login will also need a mywater user profile.

Can my organisation have a mywater login that all our staff can use?

• No, each of your organisation’s employees or authorised representatives will need to have their own unique mywater login.
• This helps to ensure the integrity of South Australia’s Water Register and to protect the valuable water assets recorded in the Register.
• It also means that organisations can easily keep track of applications made on their behalf and ensure accurate record keeping in relation to each transaction.

Do I need to request a login straight away?

• We encourage all water users in South Australia that undertake water business to sign up for a mywater account. In the interim you can continue to do water business with government using PDF application forms and by reaching out - directly to their relevant regional water licencing office.
• These PDF forms can be downloaded from the DEW website and submitted via email.
• We will be reaching out to all licence holders over the coming months to help them to get set up to use mywater.

How do I request a mywater login?

• Use the sign-up button on the mywater landing page – access.mywater.sa.gov.au - and follow the prompts.
• You will receive an email confirming receipt of your request for a login.

When will my login request be activated?

• We will review your request and activate your login within 2 business days if all required information has been provided.
• You will receive an email to confirm that your login has been activated.
• You will not be able to see your instruments, permits or water account balance until we have set up your user profile.
• You can call mywater Contact Centre during business hours at your convenience – we will help you to set up your user profile.

Why can’t I see any of my licences or permits when I log in?

• You don’t have a user profile yet.
• mywater is a ‘smart’ system but we need to do some work to set you up so that mywater recognises you when you login.

Why do I need a mywater user profile?

• You can use mywater without a user profile but if you do not have a user profile none of the information specific to you will be visible when you login.
• For example, you will not be able to see any of your licences or permits, or your water account balance.
• Also, you will need to manually enter all required information each time you lodge an application (e.g. to trade allocation).

How do I set up a mywater user profile?

• You cannot do this by yourself.
• You can call mywater Contact Centre during business hours at your convenience – we will help you to set up your user profile.
• To create your mywater user profile, we will need to know who you are, how you will use mywater (for yourself or on behalf of someone else or your employer) and which instruments (water licences or water related approvals and permits) you want (or are authorised) to deal with via mywater.
• We will use this information to ensure that only you and people you properly authorise can deal with your water instruments (or lodge water related approval or permit applications in your name) via mywater.

Why can’t I see the application to trade allocation that I recently submitted when I login?

• If you don’t have a user profile yet, you will not be able to see your trade applications.
• mywater is a ‘smart’ system but we need to do some work to set you up so that mywater recognises you when you login.

Why isn’t my water account balance up to date?

• If you don’t have a user profile yet, you will not be able to see your water account balance.
• mywater is a ‘smart’ system but we need to do some work to set you up so that mywater recognises you when you login.
• If you do have a user profile, and you are still concerned that your water account balance is incorrect, you can contact your relevant regional water licencing office.

I have never had a water account before, what is it?

• Your water account is like your bank account: it tells you how much water has been allocated to you for 2024/25 (in accordance with your licence and relevant Ministerial determinations etc).
• Each time you submit a meter read or trade water, your water account balance is updated. You can monitor your water account balance online once your mywater user profile is set up.
• If you have more than one licence, you will have a water account for each licence.
• If you have a licence that authorises take from more than one resource, you will have a water account for each resource that you are authorised to take water from.

Will my applications be processed faster if lodged in mywater?

• In most cases, yes. Many processes in mywater are automated. Many forms you are used to filling out manually will be pre-populated with data specific to you if you lodge them via mywater. Thus mywater will reduce the time it takes to submit and to process and approve an application. This will bring water trade processing times in South Australia in line with other Murray-Darling Basin states.
• mywater is available 24/7, so you can submit the application at any time including an evening or weekend. Remember though that most applications are subject to assessment by reference to relevant rules and will only be approved if they comply with those rules (for example the rules governing allocation transfer in the relevant Water Allocation Plan).
• You can check the progress of your application at any time in your personal mywater dashboard.

What are the payment options for paying Water Licensing invoices?

Once you have a mywater login and user profile, you may pay for water licensing applications or outstanding invoices (e.g. levy invoices) by credit or debit card.

The following offline payment options are also available to all water users and water businesses:

• BPay
• Australia Post Billpay
• Credit or debit card by telephone
• Cheque or money order.

Can I access mywater from a mobile device?

Yes. mywater has been designed and tested to be compatible with mobile devices, including tablets and mobile phones, as well as desktop computers. mywater is compatible with:

• Google Chrome
• Firefox
• Safari
• Microsoft Edge.

2024/25 Landscape Water Levy

Why did I get my landscape water levy invoice for the 2024/25 water use year later than in previous years?

• Landscape water levies for 2024/25 were sent out in February 2025. If you have not yet received your levy invoice, please contact the mywater Contact Centre.
• It is acknowledged that these invoices were provided to water account holders later than in previous water use years. This is due to additional validation checks required due to the transition to the new water register, mywater.
• If you require additional time to make payment, please contact the mywater Contact Centre.

What are the payment options for water levy invoices?

• Once levies have been issued and you have a mywater login and user profile, you may pay for your levy invoices by credit or debit card.
• The following offline payment options are also available to all water users and water businesses:
  • BPay
  • Australia Post Billpay
  • Credit or debit card by telephone
  • Cheque

• Please contact the mywater Contact Centre if you need assistance with your levy payment.

Why does my levy invoice have an ‘issue date’ of 1 July 2024 even though the invoice was received in 2025?

• Levies have always been calculated on 1 July each year (e.g. on the basis of the entitlement volume held on 1 July). The ‘issue date’ on the levy invoice simply reflects this date – the date the levy was calculated in the system.
• It is acknowledged that this has caused some confusion as it appears that the levy invoice was physically issued/posted on 1 July 2024. This is not the case. Invoices were posted in February 2025.
• This year it has taken longer to send levy invoices due to there being a new water register, requiring additional validation checks prior to issuing the invoices. It is acknowledged that this has resulted in a significant difference between the ‘issue date’ and sending the invoice.
• If you require additional time to pay your levy invoice, please contact the mywater Contact Centre.

I no longer hold my water licence as I sold my property or transferred my entitlement / allocation. Why am I getting a levy?

• Under section 77(2) of the Landscape South Australia Act 2019, a person who holds a water management authorisation (such as a water licence) at any time during a financial year is liable to pay the full amount of the levy. This is the case whether the person holds the authorisation throughout the year or not.
• Levies have always been calculated on 1 July each year (e.g. on the basis of the entitlement volume held, and by whom, on 1 July). Therefore, if you owned the property and a water management authorisation on that date, then you are liable to pay the levy.
• This year it has taken longer to send levy invoices due to there being a new water register, requiring additional validation checks prior to issuing the invoices. The time delay, and any confusion it has caused, is acknowledged.

Why does only one licence holder now get correspondence when all licence holders used to?

• In the transition to mywater, a ‘primary contact’ has been nominated. This is the person that receives the correspondence. In most cases, this aligns with the person nominated as the primary licence holder in the previous system (if nominated).
• This does not mean that the licence only reflects that primary contact. All licence holders remain the same as previous in the water register. All licence holders are liable for the levy, despite who the invoice is addressed to.
• Should you wish to change who the primary contact is, please notify the Department in writing of the change in contact person and list the relevant licenses. Alternatively contact your local water licensing office for further information.
• Also see below question ‘Where can I find Licence holder’s names?’

The Water Register

How can I search the Register?

• For a Water Licence, Site Use Approval, or a Permit: You will need either the water licence, approval or permit number (e.g. WL-012345) OR a land title prefix, title volume number & title folio number (e.g. CT Volume 1234 Folio 523).
• For a Water Resource Works Approval – you simply need the works approval number.

Why can’t I find my licence when I search for it in the new Water Register?

• All water licences now have six digits.
• Your water licence number has been updated so that it has six digits.
• In most cases an additional '0' has been added at the beginning of five-digit water licence numbers.
• We can advise your new licence number over the phone (we will check your identity first of course).
• Your new water licence number will be on all future correspondence from us.

How can I find out who holds a specific water licence?

• This information used to be accessible for free via WaterConnect.
• Now it can only be obtained by purchasing a Water Register extract.
• Requiring payment for this information adds a layer of protection for the identity of water licence holders.

Where can I find the details of a Security Interest (SI)?

• You can search for the water licence you wish to know about. The search result box that appears will note whether a licence has a security interest registered against it.
• For details of the security interest, check the box at the end of the table to obtain an extract from the Register. Please note that a fee is payable for this extract ($13.00).

Where can I find Licence holder’s names?

• Details of licence holders on are no longer available on the Water Register free of charge.
• You can now pay for an extract of a water licence which provides various details including the licence holders’ name.
• An extract of a water licence will also include additional details such as security interests.
• Requiring payment for an extract of a water licence enables the department to provide an additional a layer of protection for the identity of licence holders.

Why do I need to pay for some things now?

• Our new Water Register is a contemporary online system that contains personal information about South Australia’s water users.
• Requiring payment for some types of data helps us to keep that data more secure.
• It also contributes to the cost of operating and maintaining our new system.

How much does an extract cost?

• $13.00 (GST free).

Can I get a receipt for the Water Register extract I just paid for? 

• Please contact your regional Water Licensing Office.
• A receipt can be arranged and emailed to you.

I recently applied to transfer my licence / trade entitlement but the relevant information in the new Water Register is not up to date.

• System transition issues are still impacting a small number of licence transfer and entitlement trade applications.
• We are working to process and decide all outstanding licence transfer and entitlement trade applications as soon as possible.
• Once these remaining licence transfer and entitlement trade applications have been processed and decided, relevant information in the Water Register will automatically update.

Information that I can consider private (or commercially sensitive) is visible in the Water Register and I am worried.

• The Water Register is a public register, just like the land titles register.
• In accordance with relevant laws and other government decisions, the Water Register contains information about the water licences issued in South Australia and the people/organisations that hold those licences, as well as associated entitlements/security interests.
• We take your privacy seriously.
• If you believe that there is other information about you visible in the Water Register, please call the mywater Contact Centre. We will investigate immediately.

Can I submit an application to trade allocation via mywater?

• Yes, if you are set up to use mywater, you can lodge applications to trade 24/25 allocation via mywater. If you need assistance you can contact the mywater Contact Centre.
• If you are not yet set up to use mywater, you can submit applications to trade annual water allocation for the 2024/25 water use year at any time by filling out an offline application form. These can be downloaded from the DEW website.
• South Australian water account holders are encouraged to contact their regional Water Licensing Office if they need help to submit an offline application form or need information about the water account balance.

New Offline/PDF Forms

Why have all the forms on the website changed?

• The online forms you could previously access via DEW’s website are not compatible with our new system.
• Once you have a mywater login you can submit applications online via mywater.
• Once you have a mywater profile (call the mywater Contact Centre, our staff will help to get you set up), online applications will be quick and easy (the system will recognise you and will pre-populate most information in most application forms).
• If you don’t have a mywater login yet, you can download PDF versions of all our water licence and permit applications forms from our website to proceed with any transactions or applications.