Water restrictions and dam levels

Watering established lawns and gardens - Residential and non-residential premises

_{(Note this does not include production and sale area irrigation for non-residential consumers)}

You can:

• water established gardens and lawns at the following times:
  • odd numbered properties between 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
  • even or un-numbered properties between 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

You can use:

• a hand-held hose with a twist or trigger nozzle
• Sprinklers with a timer.

You can use a bucket or watering can at any time.

You can’t:

• use more than one hose at a time on a property
• use a hose without a twist or trigger nozzle or hoses which are not hand-held (e.g. left to run hooked on a tree)
• use a soaker hose
• use sprinklers without a timer.

You can:

• water new lawns and gardens using a sprinkler with a timer and hand-held hose with a twist or trigger nozzle for:
  • one hour only on the day of establishment, or
  • for one hour in total each day between 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm for 21 days after the date of establishment.

You can:

• use water for general outdoor cleaning at any time using: 
  • a bucket
  • a hand-held hose
  • a high-pressure water cleaning unit.

General outdoor cleaning includes cleaning of:

• vehicles
• external surfaces of a building
• materials and equipment
• animal pet pens and enclosures.

You can't:

• use potable water to remove loose items that could be easily removed by a broom, blower or similar device.

You can:

• only use potable water to clean paved surfaces when dealing with significant soiling or to prevent material risks to health, safety or the environment.

You can’t:

• use potable water to remove loose items that could be easily removed by a broom, blower or similar device.

You can:

• help water saving efforts by repairing internal leaks as quickly as possible, such as dripping taps or leaking toilets.

You can't:

• have leaking taps and plumbing fittings and overflowing containers or structures (including pools, spas and rainwater tanks)
• allow water to flow onto roads, pathways and driveways during irrigation.

Parks and gardens

_{(including Council and state government parks and road reserves. For information about gardens of significance see full restriction schedule)}

Established gardens:

You can:

• water established gardens and lawns at the following times:
  • odd numbered properties between 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
  • even or un-numbered properties between 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

You can use:

• a hand-held hose with a twist or trigger nozzle
• Sprinklers with a timer.

You can use a bucket or watering can at any time.

Newly established gardens:

You can:

• water new lawns and gardens using a sprinkler with a timer and hand-held hose with a twist or trigger nozzle for:
  • one hour only on the day of establishment, or
  • for one hour in total each day between 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm for 21 days after the date of establishment.

Where suitable fit-for-purpose alternative water supplies can be used, this must be used prior to using potable water supply.

Note: non-potable sources can be used appropriately at any time. 

You can:

Only use potable water for swimming pool and spa top up if you have all of the following:

• a self-assessment water audit has been completed; and
• the water is recirculating; and
• all communal taps, showers and toilets are of at least a 3-star water efficiency rating; and
• a 'clear view screen' is installed on the backwash outlet line of the swimming pool or spa; and
• a sub-meter is installed by a licensed plumber on the pool or spa make-up supply line

Or

The premise/s is/has participating/ed in the ecoBiz program and implementing water saving measures identified in the ecoBiz action plan. 

Building construction (brick laying, tile cutting etc.) - residential and non-residential premises

You can:

• water established gardens and lawns with a hand-held hose with a twist or trigger nozzle at the following times:
  • odd numbered properties between 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm on Tuesday and Saturday
  • even or un-numbered properties between 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm on Wednesday and Sunday.

You can use a bucket or watering can at any time.

You can't:

• use sprinklers
• use more than one hose at a time on a property
• use a hose without a twist or trigger nozzle or hoses which are not hand-held.

You can:

• water new lawns and gardens using a sprinkler with a timer and a hand-held hose with a twist or trigger nozzle for:
  • one hour only on the day of establishment
  • your permitted watering times above or
  • for one hour total each day between 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm for 14 days after the date of establishment.

Where suitable fit-for-purpose alternative water supplies can be used, this must be used prior to using potable water supply.

You can:

• use water for general outdoor cleaning at the following times:
  • odd numbered properties - Tuesday and Saturday
  • even or un-numbered properties - Wednesday and Sunday.

• use:
  • a bucket
  • a hand‐held hose or
  • a high‐pressure water cleaning unit.

General outdoor cleaning includes cleaning of:

• vehicles
• external surfaces of a building
• materials and equipment
• animal pet pens and enclosures.

Cleaning for health and safety is permitted at any time by any suitable means.

You can:

• only use potable water to clean paved surfaces when dealing with significant soiling or to prevent material risks to health, safety or the environment.

You can’t:

• use potable water to remove loose items that could be easily removed by a broom, blower or similar device.

You can:

• top up swimming pools and spas at any time if:
  • a down pipe diverter or rainwater tank is used 
  • a pool cover is in place when pool is not in use or
  • the pool is Climate Care certified.

You can:

• help water saving efforts by repairing internal leaks as quickly as possible, such as dripping taps or leaking toilets.

You can't:

• have leaking taps and plumbing fittings and overflowing containers or structures (including pools, spas and rainwater tanks)
• allow water to flow onto roads, pathways and driveways during irrigation.

Must comply with the Active Playing Surface Guideline. 

Parks and gardens

_{(including Council and state government parks and road reserves. For information about gardens of significance see full restriction schedule)}

Established gardens:

You can:

• water established gardens and lawns at the following times:
  • odd numbered properties between 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
  • even or un-numbered properties between 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

You can use:

• a hand-held hose with a twist or trigger nozzle
• Sprinklers with a timer.

You can use a bucket or watering can at any time.

Newly established gardens:

You can:

• water new lawns and gardens using a sprinkler with a timer and hand-held hose with a twist or trigger nozzle for:
  • one hour only on the day of establishment, or
  • for one hour in total each day between 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm for 21 days after the date of establishment.

Where suitable fit-for-purpose alternative water supplies can be used, this must be used prior to using potable water supply.

Note: non-potable sources can be used appropriately at any time. 

 You can:

• clean paved surfaces at any time when using a high-pressure water cleaning unit. 

You can’t:

• use potable water to remove loose items that could be easily removed by a broom, blower or similar device.

 You can:

• Clean vehicles and buildings at any time using
  • a bucket or
  • a hand-held hose or
  • a high-pressure water cleaning unit

You can:

Only use potable water for swimming pool and spa top up if you have all of the following:

• a self-assessment water audit has been completed; and
• the water is recirculating; and
• all communal taps, showers and toilets are of at least a 3-star water efficiency rating; and
• a 'clear view screen' is installed on the backwash outlet line of the swimming pool or spa; and
• a sub-meter is installed by a licensed plumber on the pool or spa make-up supply line.

 You can:

• clean for health and safety at any time by an suitable efficient means. For land development and roadwork, fit for purpose alternative water supplies must be used where suitable alternative water supplies are available within a 10km radius of the worksite. 

 You can:

• Use potable water for building construction purposes where: 
  • the site is attended; and
  • the hoses and equipment are in good condition and free from leaks; and
  • water is not running to waste. 

You can:

• use a bucket or watering can to water established gardens and lawns at the following times:
  • odd numbered properties between 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm on Tuesday and Saturday
  • even or un-numbered properties between 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm on Wednesday and Sunday.

You can't:

• use sprinklers or hoses.

You can:

• use a bucket or watering can to water newly established gardens and lawns at the following times:
  • odd numbered properties - 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm Tuesday and Saturday
  • even or un-numbered properties - 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm Wednesday and Sunday.

You can't:

• use sprinklers or hoses.

You can:

• use water for general outdoor cleaning at the following times:
  • odd numbered properties - 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm Tuesday and Saturday
  • even or un-numbered properties - 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm Wednesday and Sunday.

• use:
  • a bucket or
  • a high-pressure water cleaning unit.

General outdoor cleaning includes cleaning of:

• vehicles
• external surfaces of a building
• materials and equipment
• animal pet pens and enclosures.

Cleaning for health and safety is permitted at any time by any suitable means.

You can't:

• use a hose for general cleaning of hard surfaces such as paths, driveways and paved area.

You can:

• only use town water supplies to clean paved surfaces for health and safety reasons, at any time by any suitable means.

You can’t:

• use potable water to remove loose items that could be easily removed by a broom, blower or similar device.

You can:

• top up swimming pools and spas at any time if:
  • a down pipe diverter or rainwater tank is used
  • a pool cover is in place when pool is not in use or
  • the pool is Climate Care certified.

You can:

• help water saving efforts by repairing internal leaks as quickly as possible, such as dripping taps or leaking toilets.

You can't:

• have leaking taps and plumbing fittings and overflowing containers or structures (including pools, spas and rainwater tanks)
• allow water to flow onto roads, pathways and driveways during irrigation.

There is a total outdoor watering ban.

You can’t:

• use sprinklers, hoses, watering cans or buckets.

There is a total outdoor watering ban.

You can’t:

• use sprinklers, hoses, watering cans or buckets.

You can:

• use water for general outdoor cleaning, only when using a bucket filled directly from a tap to:
  • spot clean a surface to remove potentially paint or surface damaging mark
  • clean only vehicle mirrors, vehicle lights, glass and number plates to maintain safe operation and satisfy number plate visibility requirements
  • clean other such parts of a vehicle to comply with statutory or regulatory operation or
  • flush an inboard or outboard motor or vehicle brake to prevent corrosion and maintain safe operation.

Cleaning for health and safety is permitted at any time by any suitable means.

You can:

• only use town water supplies to clean paved surfaces for health and safety reasons, at any time by any suitable means.

You can’t:

• use potable water to remove loose items that could be easily removed by a broom, blower or similar device.

You can:

• help water saving efforts by repairing internal leaks as quickly as possible, such as dripping taps or leaking toilets.

You can't:

• have leaking taps and plumbing fittings and overflowing containers or structures (including pools, spas and rainwater tanks).

Total outdoor watering ban.

You can’t

• use sprinklers, hoses, watering cans or buckets.

You can’t

• use sprinklers, hoses, watering cans or buckets.

You can:

• Use water for general outdoor cleaning, only when using a bucket filled directly from a tap to:
  • spot clean a surface to remove potentially paint or surface damaging mark
  • clean only vehicle mirrors, vehicle lights, glass and number plates to maintain safe operation and satisfy number plate visibility requirements or
  • clean other such parts of a vehicle as required to comply with statutory or regulatory obligations.

Water can also be used to flush an inboard or outboard motor or vehicle brakes to prevent corrosion and maintain safe operation.

You can:

• only use town water supplies to clean paved surfaces for health and safety reasons, at any time by any suitable means.

You can’t:

• use potable water to remove loose items that could be easily removed by a broom, blower or similar device.

You can:

• help water saving efforts by repairing internal leaks as quickly as possible, such as dripping taps or leaking toilets.

You can't:

• have leaking taps and plumbing fittings and overflowing containers or structures (including pools, spas and rainwater tanks).