Bidet seat and RPZ valves (backflow prevention devices)

A bidet seat is installed onto an existing toilet to assist clients to adequately clean themselves with dignity and independence.

A Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) Valve (device) prevents contaminated water from backflow into household or mains water supply.

Please note:

• Free standing bidets and smart toilets are considered a new utility and are not funded by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)
• DVA does not usually replace existing toilets to accommodate a bidet seat
• DVA does not fund household repairs. The expectation is that the client should already have a toilet in good working condition.

The DVA client must have an assessed clinical need and a:

• Gold Card; or,
• White Card with an accepted condition relating to the clinical need for the equipment.

DVA usually only funds one bidet toilet seat per client. Additional bidet toilet seats will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.

Prescribing

Prior approval is required for the supply of a bidet seat. Ensure all the eligibility criteria and the following limits are met:

• Must be for installation at the client’s primary residence
• A request for one (1) bidet seat per client
• The bidet seat is an on-contract model through one of DVA’s contracted suppliers
• Installed at the toilet with the simplest installation and which the client accesses the most. In a multi-storey home the simplest installation will generally be the ground floor toilet.

An in-home assessment must be conducted by a suitably qualified OT with the client and their carer(s) (where relevant) to determine whether a bidet seat is clinically essential. The OT Prescription Guide is an optional resource available to support clinical consideration and discussion on bidet seats during OT in-home assessments.

Consideration must be given to:

• Simple, non-structural alternatives such as aids or appliances have been considered
• Assistance from carers and community services being adequate and available to meet the clinical need
• Review by additional health professionals which may improve the client’s medical condition and/or physical ability to adequately clean themselves
• The modification being clinically necessary to assist with the management of a long-term clinical need
• The weight of the user being within the safe working limits of the prescribed equipment and any accessories
• The client’s cognitive capacity to independently operate the equipment or a carer being available to operate the equipment
• Trialling the bidet seat via a supplier showroom, when practical.

The client must also be made aware of and agree to:

• The psychosocial impact of being reliant on a bidet seat
• The aesthetic and practical implications of having a bidet seat, RPZ device (if required by local regulators), and General- Purpose Power Outlet (GPO) potentially installed
• The impact the installation may have on the household’s water pressure.

1. An in-home assessment is conducted by a suitably qualified OT to determine the clinical need and suitability of a bidet. The OT considers the recommended bidet seat based on the clients anthropometric and ergonomic requirements including client weight, existing toilet specifications, and compatibility of required toilet accessories.
2. The assessing OT completes the D1327 – Home / Access Modification Assessment Form and the property owner completes the D1323 Authority to Install /Modify Form. The OT sends the form to one of the contracted suppliers listed on the D1327 form.
3. The DVA contracted supplier provides a suitably qualified plumber and electrician to quote and plan the installation of an on-contract bidet seat. This includes an assessment to determine whether a connection or upgrade of utilities, or additional water-pressure equipment may be required – these upgrades will be the responsibility of the homeowner to fund. The contracted supplier then sends the itemised quote and installation details to DVA for prior approval.
4. DVA issues the prior-approval outcome to the prescribing OT and contracted supplier.
5. If approved, the bidet seat is installed by the plumber (and electrician if a GPO is required).
6. If the RPZ device is required by the client’s local water authority, it must be registered by the plumber. 

DVA's Occupational Therapy Advisers have developed a checklist which can be used to inform clinical considerations and discussions on bidet seats during OT home assessments. The OT Prescription Guide is not compulsory, but it may be submitted as supporting documentation (at step 2, above).

Additional Information

DVA does not undertake or fund the connection or upgrading of basic utilities (water, sewerage, or electricity, etc.) or standard household items.

If an existing utility or household item requires upgrading to bring it up to current building or plumbing standards, this is the responsibility of the homeowner to fund. This includes any additional equipment to improve home water pressure.

Any upgrades or additional equipment must be completed or installed prior to the supply and installation of a bidet seat.

The owner of the property will be required to complete the D1323 Authority to Install/Modify form, agreeing to:

• The work proceeding
• The specifications of the modifications
• Not seek financial assistance for the restoration of the property to its former state if the bidet seat, RPZ device, or GPO are no longer required, or has impacted water pressure.

DVA will install and maintain the bidet seat and any required RPZ devices. However, DVA does not fund the removal or relocation of bidet seats or RPZ devices once they are no longer required, if the client moves to a new residence, then a new request for the item must be completed. 

DVA will cease to fund the annual registration and testing costs for the RPZ device once the client no longer lives at the residence.

Consideration must be given to the type of residence and type of toilet prior to requesting a bidet installation.

Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF)

DVA does not provide home modifications in RACFs.

Owner-occupied residence

Purchase of the residence should have occurred prior to any knowledge of the disability and the client was not reasonably able to judge that access was likely to become an issue. The owner needs to complete the D1323 Authority to Install /Modify Form. If the modification extends onto common or shared space, the body corporate/owners corporation needs to provide approval in writing.

In strata titled properties, the body corporate/owners corporation will need to approve any modifications that extend onto common or shared space. This approval can be provided in a letter from the body corporate/owners corporation.

Private rental accommodation

DVA will consider the length of time the client has lived in the residence. If less than five years, and/or the client has moved house on a regular basis, consideration should be given to either minor modifications, aids or moving to a more suitable residence.

The owner of the rental accommodation must be provided with the specifications and drawings of the scope of work to be done and a signed copy included in the request to DVA. The owner or their agent is to complete the D1323 Authority to Install /Modify Form.

Retirement villages/Independent Living Units

While retirement villages and independent living units (cluster of self-care units) are normally purpose built to cater for the needs of older persons, they will often have regular (unmodified) toilets. It is therefore reasonable to consider the provision of a bidet seat and RPZ valve modification if the retirement village markets itself as not providing any form of aged care support – PRS, personal care/nursing assistance, mobility and functional support equipment, etc. Agreement for a modification, in writing by the village operator may be necessary.

Lifestyle villages

Often known as ‘resort style’ living and are principally targeted at active people over 50 years old with less emphasis on provision of aged care services such as personal response system (PRS) and emergency medical treatment.

If the lifestyle village markets itself as not providing any form of aged care support – PRS, personal care/nursing assistance, mobility and functional support equipment etc. – then consideration may be given to the installation of support equipment or home modifications. Agreement for a modification, in writing by the village operator is necessary.

Where accommodation is owner-occupied, the owner must complete the D1323 Authority to Install /Modify Form or if applicable the lifestyle village operator is to complete the form or provide approval in writing.

DVA delegates should confirm that the lifestyle village is not a retirement village.

Parks

Residence in a Park may comprise of:

• privately owned, prefabricated, relocatable homes located on leased land within a park complex, similar to a caravan park but without short-stay (less than three months) arrangements; or
• leased, prefabricated, relocatable homes located on leased land within a park complex, similar to a caravan park but without short-stay (less than three months) arrangements.

If the park is not restricted to retired persons and offers no aged care service then it may fall outside the scope of the relevant State/Territory retirement villages’ legislation.  In this case, DVA is likely to treat the dwelling as an owner-occupied residence (see Owner-occupied residence).

Rental park dwellings are privately owned rentals located on leased ground.  DVA would only consider home modifications for long-term residents who are assessed as likely to remain in the rental park dwelling for at least five years. (see Private Rental Accommodation).

Where accommodation is owner-occupied, the owner should complete the D1323 Authority to Install /Modify Form or if applicable the park operator is to complete the relevant section or provide approval in writing.

State-owned housing

The Department does not provide home modifications to Government-owned homes.  The responsible State/Territory housing agency will modify residences or organise alternative accommodation, in accordance with their own procedures.

Prescribed bidet seats must conform to technical specification WMTS-051:2021 to ensure the product is appropriately authorised for use in plumbing and drainage installations.

The installation requirements for bidet seats must conform to Australian Standards AS/NZS 3500.1:2021 which covers the water services; and AS/NZS 2845 Parts 1-3 which sets out the requirements and mechanisms for protection of the water supply.

The Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA 2022) also known as the National Construction Code 2022 Vol 3 (NCC Vol 3) relates to the health, safety and supply of water on a property.

DVA contracted suppliers will ensure the installation meets all relevant standards.

Water supply and associated backflow protection for bidet seats are regulated under two jurisdictions: 

1. Individual/Zone protection – inside / within the Property

Regulated by State and Territory Authorities

All State and Territory regulators have legislated specified inbuilt backflow mechanisms for bidet seats as suitable protection against drinking water contamination.

All DVA contracted bidet seats have inbuilt backflow protection which meet these regulatory requirements.

Please note not all manufactured bidet seats contain inbuilt backflow protection.

2. Containment protection at the water meter – Property Boundary

Regulated by local water Corporations/Authorities.

Water authorities can determine differing levels of backflow containment based on local legislation/policy.

Many local water corporations/authorities continue to require an RPZ device at the property boundary regardless of bidet seat type.

Please note: DVA will not install an RPZ valve/device where the regulator does not require one. It is the responsibility of the supplier/installer to determine if an RPZ device is required at the water meter &/or inside the property boundary and should check with the relevant regulators.

Technical compliance and the inclusion of an approved integral backflow mechanism on any bidet seat model can be confirmed by installers via review of the Watermark Certification Scheme database. Please see WaterMark.

Further information for installers relating to individual/zone protection is available via their state and territory regulators published technical notes.

1800 550 457

Health Providers can contact DVA for any enquiries by calling the Provider Hotline and selecting Option 1 when prompted, for RAP.