Water restrictions

Temporary lifting of water restrictions in southeast Queensland

The State Government has announced the temporary lifting of water restrictions in southeast Queensland.
The temporary restrictions apply from Wednesday November 16 to midnight Sunday 27.
Unitywater wishes to advise customers that water usage charges still apply during the period and encourages customers to conserve water and check their water meter readings every fortnight.

An explanation of the temporary exemptions can be found on the Queensland Water Commission website homepage, or by clicking here.

Summary of permanent water restrictions

Water restrictions are set by the Queensland Water Commission (QWC). The QWC is legally required to monitor and enforce the restrictions. The QWC's Permanent Water Conservation Measures came into force on 1 December 2009, and include a water usage target of 200 litres per person per day.

On the QWC website, you’ll find detailed information about the water conservation measures for both residents and businesses. We recommend you familiarise yourself with those that are relevant to you, because excessive water use could mean you are banned from using water for outside watering.

A summary of the water restrictions has been provided in the table below. For more information, contact us or contact the Queensland Water Commission.

Residential water users

Gardens and Lawns	Watering using a hose with a twist or trigger nozzle or a water-efficient irrigation system can occur any day except Monday, between 4pm and 10am. All irrigation equipment must comply with the QWC efficient irrigation for water conservation guideline (please note, most existing irrigation systems will not meet the requirements of the guideline). Watering with a bucket or watering can is permitted at anytime. New gardens and lawns can be watered-in on the day of establishment. Future watering must then comply with the times above.
Existing pools and spas	Town water can only be used for topping-up where a rainwater tank or downpipe rainwater diverter is fitted, and after all water from such devices is used and the premises complies with three (3) of the following (or is a SPASA EcoPool): A swimming pool cover; Water-efficient taps and shower heads; Water-efficient toilets; or A water-efficient washing machine. Where the above measures have been met, topping up can occur at any time.
Vehicles	Cleaning at any time using a bucket of water, hand-held hose with a trigger or twist-nozzle, or a high-pressure cleaning unit.
Building washing	Cleaning at any time using a bucket of water, hand-held hose with a trigger or twist-nozzle, or a high-pressure cleaning unit. Please note, driveways and similar hard surfaces, except outdoor entertainment areas, are not to be washed down unless for health and safety reasons or if there is significant soiling. Such cleaning applies only to the affected area, not the entire surface.
Play pools	A play pool can be used where it: has a filter, OR holds 500 litres of water or less.
High-water users	Households using more than 1200 litres of town water per day or more than 300 litres per person per day, without a legitimate reason, may face an outdoor water ban.
Rainwater tanks	Rainwater tanks must not be filled with town water from a tap, water tanker or any other device. Residents using water from a water tanker must check the water is not sourced from town supply. The only exception is where the property is not within Unitywater's town water supply area or a trickle top-up system has been installed.

Business, Industry and non-residential water users

Using more than 10 million litres per year	Must comply with their approved Water Efficiency Management Plan and achieve a 25% water saving or best practice water use.
Using more than one million litres per year	Must have water-efficient taps, trigger-sprays and shower heads (i.e. flow-rate of no more than nine litres per minute).
With urinals	Urinals must be water-efficient.
With cooling towers	Must submit and comply with a Water Efficiency Management Plan.
Mobile vehicle washers	Must only use water in accordance with water efficiency guidelines.
Commercial pool and spa operators	Must keep a weekly log and install a rainwater tank, a sub-meter and a clear-view screen in the backwash outlet line, together with a range of water-efficient fittings.
Operators of visitor accommodation	Must display water conservation information in bathrooms and ablution blocks to encourage guests to be water efficient.
Active playing surfaces	Must only use water in accordance with the active playing surfaces guidelines. Operators must: register with Unitywater; install a sub-meter; keep a log book; only use what they have been allocated (for local turfed sports only); and only water at permitted times. Different requirements apply to each category of playing surface - check with Unitywater or the Queensland Water Commission for details.
Nurseries	Must comply with their approved Water Efficiency Management Plan and achieve a 25% water saving or best practice water use.
Public swimming pool operators	Must comply with their approved Water Efficiency Management Plan and achieve a 25% water saving or best practice water use.
Irrigating more than 500 square metres of garden and/or lawn	On non-residential premises, if the combined area of gardens and lawns to be irrigated exceeds 500 square meters and property owners want to use water from the reticulated (town) supply system for irrigation, they must submit an Irrigation WEMP (IWEMP).