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Water relief and replacement

Apply for relief drinking water and water replacement after bushfires

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Relief drinking water

Applications for the relief drinking water program closed on 2 April 2026. Late applications will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances.

Emergency relief drinking water is available to help households affected by the January 2026 Victorian bushfires.

Relief drinking water is a one‑off delivery of clean domestic water, up to 20,000 litres.

It’s available if:

Households must complete and submit the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) form to access this support.

Find information about eligibility, maps of impacted areas, and how to apply on the DEECA website.

Essential water replacement

If we take essential water from your land to fight fires, you can ask for it to be replaced.

The Essential Water Replacement Policy makes sure that water needed for homes, livestock, or crops is replaced.

To replace your water, please download and complete the Essential Water Replacement Form.

You must ask for water replacement within 3 months of it being taken from your property. If essential water supplies run out, we will replace the water within 48 hours of your request, as long as it’s safe.

For more information, visit the Assistance for fencing and water replacement after bushfires section on the Forest Fire Management Victoria website.

Recovery Water Tank Cleaning Rebates

Rebates to households that are not connected to mains water supply to help ensure access to safe drinking water.

Eligible households will receive a rebate for cleaning and filling water tanks that are impacted by the bushfires.

More information is available on the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action website.

Tank water safety

Your tank water may not be safe to drink after a fire. It could be contaminated from debris, ash, dead animals, aerial fire retardants, and water-bombing.

If the water tastes, looks or smells unusual, do not:

Use bottled water for drinking.

If you disconnected your downpipes before the fire, hose off your roof or wait for heavy rain before you reconnect them.

Read more about bushfires and private drinking water on the Better Heath Channel.

January 2026 Victorian bushfires

Relief and recovery support for people and communities affected by the Victorian fires that started on 7 January 2026.

Safety & emergencies

Updated 7 April 2026

Recovery support is available

If you have been impacted by the January 2026 Victorian bushfires, help is available.

Call the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760(opens in a new window), Monday to Friday.

Press 9 for an interpreter or call Translating and Interpretation Service (TIS) on 131 450.

If you are in immediate danger, call 000.

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