Relief drinking water
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:
- 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 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.
- Essential water replacement form - PDF
- Essential water replacement form - Word document
- Email the completed form to emergency.recovery@deeca.vic.gov.au.
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.
Tank water
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.
January 2026 Victorian bushfires
Relief and recovery support for people and communities affected by the Victorian fires that started on 7 January 2026.
Updated
