River Detectives is a free, fun and flexible statewide citizen science program designed for schools.

Before you start building, renovating or sub-dividing, make sure your plans meet our criteria for flood, water asset and waterway protection.

Building surveyors and councils won’t issue a building permit unless you have our written approval to work or build near our assets such as pipes, drains and water mains.

Before you apply to councils for a town planning or building permit, you must find out if your property is near or within any Melbourne Water easements or assets – such as drains, sewers or water mains.

If we need ‘as constructed’ plans for the asset near your property, you’ll need to engage a licensed surveyor and Service Detection Locators to prove its location.

Works near, on or above our assets must meet our technical requirements.

You must include preliminary plans and supporting documents that outline your proposed work when applying for approval to connect to our stormwater system.

Any new or modified stormwater connection into our drains, waterways or open drainage channels must meet our technical requirements, and be approved by us.

You are responsible for any damage plants cause to nearby buildings, footpaths, underground pipes and other structures. Following these guidelines can reduce vegetation management issues in the future.