Saving
Water Tips
Saving Water During Water Restrictions
Mandatory Water Restrictions
- Level 3 mandatory water restrictions now apply across Sydney, Illawarra and the Blue Mountains.
- A fine of $220 applies for all breaches of Level 3 restrictions by individuals. The Water Restrictions Patrol is carrying out random audits to ensure compliance with the new exemption conditions.
- To further encourage compliance with the restrictions, a corporation now faces a fine of $550 for each breach. Fines for water theft have risen to $2,200.
- The restrictions apply to all Sydney Water customers including residents, businesses, local councils and government agencies.
- Level 3 mandatory water restrictions now apply across Sydney, Illawarra and the Blue Mountains.A fine of $220 applies for all breaches of Level 3 restrictions by individuals. The Water Restrictions Patrol is carrying out random audits to ensure compliance with the new exemption conditions. To further encourage compliance with the restrictions, a corporation now faces a fine of $550 for each breach. Fines for water theft have risen to $2,200.The restrictions apply to all Sydney Water customers including residents, businesses, local councils and government agencies.
The Level 3 restrictions are:
- Hand-held hosing of lawns and gardens and drip irrigation is now allowed only on Wednesdays and Sundays before 10 am and after 4 pm
- No other watering systems or sprinklers are to be used at any time
- A permit from Sydney Water is required to fill new or renovated pools bigger than 10,000 litres
- No hosing of hard surfaces including vehicles at any time
- No hoses or taps to be left running unattended, except when filling pools or containers
- Fire hoses must only be used for fire fighting purposes – not for cleaning.
- Recycled water, bore water and water used for testing fire systems, fire fighting and related activities are excluded from restrictions.
The following are still permitted at any time:
- Using a bucket or watering can to wash and rinse vehicles or water lawns and gardens.
- Topping up any existing swimming pool.
- Filling a pool less than 10,000L capacity.
- Using water from a rainwater tank, as long as it is not connected to or topped up from Sydney Water mains.
- Using a hose with a trigger nozzle or high pressure cleaning device to clean boat bilges and boat trailer brakes and wheels.
- Using a hose to flush boat engines.
- Cleaning garbage bins using a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or with an on/off switch. This should be done within an official bin wash area or on grass.
Definitions
- A sprinkler is any attachment to a garden hose or fixed pipe that is left unattended to emit water over a given area. Sprinklers are not permitted at any time. Hoses must not be left unattended at any time.
- A watering system is a fixed or permanent system having either single or multiple watering zones and is controlled by a manual tap, electronic or mechanical timer. Watering systems (other than drip irrigation systems) are not permitted at any time.
- A drip irrigation system has special low pressure drip devices that release water slowly, in drips, at or below ground level near plant roots. These systems also include weeping hoses.
- Hard surfaces include paths, driveways, floors and buildings.
- Vehicles include cars, trucks, trailers, caravans, motorcycles and boats.
- A container may include things such as a tank, vat, drum, bucket, portable road barriers, rubbish bins or a garden water feature. The container may be filled, but not be allowed to overflow and waste water.
- Newly constructed pools which require filling for the first time by a pool installer will require a permit.
- Existing pools are pools that are the owner's responsibility that may require topping up or filling from time to time.
- Pool renovations are classified as alterations that require substantial changes to the shape of a pool, or major additions to the structure around the pool. These are treated as new pools and require a permit. Building plans must be approved by the local council and Sydney Water for this type of work. (Activities such as retiling or resurfacing existing pools are not classified as major renovations).
- Water theft is illegally taking water from the Sydney Water system. Examples of water theft include:
Tampering with a water meter
- By-passing a water meter so that the water supply becomes unmetered
- Using an unmetered supply of water, for example using a standpipe that does not have a meter.
- Hoses connected to metered standpipes are included in these restrictions if they are being used for any restricted activities.
Sourced from the Sydney Water Website – www.sydneywater.com.au
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