Environment and Public Health Management System
The aim of Melbourne Water's Environmental and Public Health Management System is to manage Melbourne Water's environment and public health risks (except drinking water quality) and meet the requirements of ISO14001, the International Standard for Environmental Management Systems. Public health issues relating to drinking water quality and Occupational Health & Safety issues are covered by separate risk management systems.
ISO14001 key objectives are that we meet all environmental legislative requirements relevant to Melbourne Water and achieve continual improvement in our environmental performance. To support this ISO14001 requires:
- An environmental policy committed to the above. Melbourne Water has an environment policy and this is supported by 'Sustainable Water - A Strategic Framework', which shows real commitment to environmental sustainability
- An Aspects and Impacts register which identifies all the positive and negative impacts on the environment that arise from our activities and risk ranks them
- A system for ensuring that we know and meet our legislative and other requirements
- A program for environmental improvement that is contained within our Annual Corporate Plan, the Water Plan and individual Performance Plans
- Defined resources, roles and responsibility and authority
- Systems for competence, training and awareness
- A manual describing how the EMS works and system procedures explaining how the system is implemented to protect the environment across all activities, including those delivered by Contractors
- Regular monitoring and reporting of environmental impacts through internal quarterly reports and Melbourne Water's Annual Reports
- External and internal audits
- Regular management reviews to look at effectiveness of the EPHMS