Terms & Conditions

By participating in the Schools Water Efficiency Program and submitting the registration form via the SWEP sign up page you confirm that you are a person authorised to act on behalf of the school campus you are registering and that you accept these Terms and Conditions.

Background

The Schools Water Efficiency Program (SWEP) is a Victorian Government initiative funded and delivered by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action in partnership with the Department of Education.

SWEP aims to help primary and secondary schools save potable (drinking) water by tracking water use and detecting leaks through digital metering technology. Reducing unnecessary potable water use, such as water wasted through leaks, broken equipment or inefficient use, helps to conserve Victoria’s precious drinking water and can help schools to reduce operational costs and efficiently maintain water‑related assets.

Program inclusions

Every Victorian primary and secondary school campus is eligible for the following once during the life of the program:

    1. For schools that have not participated in SWEP previously and that do not have existing digital metering installed, the following will be provided at no cost:
      • Installation of up to two data loggers.
      • For schools on potable (drinking/reticulated) water supply, at least one data logger must be installed on the main water corporation meter. The second may be installed on a suitably significant metered water supply, such as a second water corporation main meter (if it exists) or a school’s own sub‑meter/check meter.1
      • For schools on non‑potable (non‑drinking/non‑reticulated) water supply, the data logger(s) may be installed on a suitably significant metered water supply, such as a rainwater tank.
      • Installation of a vandal guard to protect the data logger, if necessary (determined by SWEP contractor).
      • A guarantee that any defects or functional issues with the data logger will be rectified within 30 business days or by mutual agreement.
    2. For schools that do have an existing digital meter or data logger installed:
      • SWEP will work with your water corporation to arrange for data from the existing asset(s) to be transmitted to the SWEP web portal.
  2. Secure log‑in access to view and download your school’s water use data via the SWEP portal.
  3. Automated leak alerts will be sent to your school’s nominated email address(es) in the following pattern:
    • First leak alert – within 24 hours (same day) of the SWEP system detecting water use of over 100 litres per hour between 12am and 1am (default leak detection setting).
    • Follow‑up leak alerts – every three days for continued leaks (i.e. where the system detects continued water use above 100 litres per hour between 12am and 1am).

Fees for returning SWEP schools

Schools returning to SWEP (i.e. participated in SWEP previously and are re‑joining) must pay for the re‑supply and re‑installation of the data logger(s). The fees are set out in Table 1 below and may be updated from time to time.

1 Installation of a second data logger is at the discretion of SWEP and will consider if its installation will provide additional water insights, further potential for water savings and if the water source to be monitored represents a significant portion of onsite demand.

Table 1. SWEP re‑supply fee
Valid from 1 January 2026		 Cost excluding GST Cost including GST
Re‑supply fee for data logger and installation on a potable water meter (per data logger) $600.00 $660.00
Re‑supply fee for data logger and installation on a rainwater tank (per data logger) $750.00 $825.00

Program exclusions

SWEP does not:

  1. Arrange, liaise with, or pay for a plumber to find or fix leaks.
  2. Arrange, liaise with or pay for any other contractor to undertake any onsite works.
  3. Provide funding for grants for school maintenance or water asset upgrades.
  4. Pay for re‑installation, re‑supply or maintenance of data loggers that are stolen or damaged due to vandalism, negligence or otherwise.
  5. Provide and/or arrange data transmission for more than the maximum of two data loggers.
  6. Undertake school incursions or on‑site education programs.
  7. For 1A and 1B, SWEP will, within the scope of these Terms and Conditions, aim to provide water monitoring to your school, however, if SWEP is unable to monitor your school (e.g. for technical reasons, incompatible assets/data files), it is:
    • not obligated to provide alternative arrangements; and/or
    • not responsible for any on‑site work or equipment supply to upgrade or replace any non‑SWEP assets.
    SWEP will advise your school within 60 days if it is unable to provide monitoring.

Participant (school) obligations

As a participant your school commits to the following:

  1. Grant site access to the SWEP service provider for the purposes of installing and/or maintaining the data logger, at a time and day mutually agreed to between the school and the SWEP service provider.
  2. Where practicable, act upon any leaks found within the school property within 30 days, or as per relevant school or governing organisation policies.
  3. Contact the SWEP Team to modify the default leak detection settings, where leak alerts are being received for known water use, such as overnight irrigation or building works.
  4. Maintain correct school contact details for timely receipt of leak alerts, via the SWEP portal.
  5. Any damage, negligence, vandalism or otherwise caused to the data logger(s), that is not a technical or product defect, will be paid for by the school. Fees to replace damaged or stolen data loggers are in Table 1.
  6. That a representative from the Victorian Government may contact the school to participate in surveys, case studies, interviews or naming in the media for program promotions or analysis (subject to additional agreement).