Emergencies and Natural Disasters

Temporary drinking water fill points remain available for small users (less than 1,000 litres). Customers must bring their own containers.
Locations are listed below, or you can view them on this online interactive map.

Town fill points

Tank fill points

Water remains available free of charge during this recovery period at the following permanent standpipe locations listed below or visible on this online interactive map.

These locations are suitable for water carters and large tankers.

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 up to 20,000 litres of clean domestic water.

It’s available if:

• your household relies on tank water,
• your tank has been contaminated by fire, ash, debris or fire‑fighting activities,
• and your property is within an impacted area.

Households must complete and submit the DEECA form to access this support. Find information about eligibility, maps of impacted areas, and how to apply at Emergency relief drinking water 2026.

If essential water is taken from your land to fight fires, you can request 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.

• Essential water replacement form (PDF, 85.4 KB)
• Essential water replacement form (accessible) (DOCX, 148.7 KB)
• Email the completed form to emergency.recovery@deeca.vic.gov.au.

You must request water replacement within 3 months of it being taken from your property. If essential water supplies run out, water will be replaced within 48 hours of your request, as long as it's safe. 

For more information, visit Public land recovery on the FFMVic website.

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. 

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:

• drink
• use for food preparation
• use for brushing teeth
• give to animals (pets or livestock).

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.