Watering exemptions

The exemptions below only apply to scheme water supplied by the Water Corporation. Note that all exemptions granted, may be subject to verification and audit. 

You must apply for an exemption for the following activities by calling 13 10 39.

New lawns and gardens

If you are establishing a new lawn or garden, you may apply for additional watering times and days.

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Variation to designated watering days

Public institutions and sporting bodies can apply for an exemption to alter their designated watering days. To be eligible, the organisation must demonstrate the need to change their watering days and have considered all other watering options.

If granted, the exemption allows watering to occur on nominated alternative days, between the hours of 6pm and 9am, on a total number of days in the week equal to that allowed in their watering regime zone.

The following exemptions are granted automatically.

Installation, repair and testing of reticulation systems

You can't run your reticulation outside your allocated watering days or times to see if the system is operating or adjust sprays on sprinklers.

You can only test your reticulation outside your allowed watering days and times following repairs to the pipe work. However:

  • testing is limited to a maximum of two minutes per station;

  • you must be in attendance in the garden area where the sprinklers are operating; and

  • inspectors will ask to view repairs.

Contractors or Irrigation Australia Members who are installing, repairing and testing reticulation systems during the course of employment can use the reticulation equipment for a maximum of two minutes per station on any day.  However, you must be in attendance in the garden area where the sprinklers are operating.  Inspectors will ask to view the installation or repair. 

Caravan parks

Caravan Parks can use up to 10 millimetres of water once a site has been vacated.

Indoor plants including greenhouses

You can water indoor plants including greenhouses with mist spray for up to one minute four times a day.

Lawn tennis courts, turf wickets and bowling greens

Managers of lawn tennis courts, turf wickets and bowling greens in any town south of (and including) Kalbarri and Kalgoorlie can water using a reticulation system for one additional day per week (before 9am and after 6pm).  This means that these uses have three watering days each week.

Aviaries

People with aviaries can put their sprinklers on to cool down birds in their cages.

Synthetic sporting surfaces

You can water synthetic sporting surfaces for 10 minutes prior to games being played.

You can water synthetic sporting surfaces for 10 minutes prior to games being played.You can water synthetic sporting surfaces for 10 minutes prior to games being played.

Applying wetting agents and fertilisers (includes vertimowing)

A person, during the course of employment in the turf, garden and landscaping industries, can apply 10 millimetres of water after the application of fertilisers, wetting agents or vertimowing.This exemption is not available to general customers who are expected to carry out these activities and watering on their allocated day and within the allowed times.

Commercial

All commercial and industrial properties are exempt if the water is required for operational purposes. 

The exemption does not cover watering of lawns and/or gardens at these properties.