home Being Waterwise Water Efficiency Measures Do's and Don'ts

The water efficiency measures now in place don’t just affect our gardens. They are governed by a set of by-laws that prescribe how we can use water outside. To make it easier for you to keep to the rules we’ve provided a simple list of the things you can and can’t do with water.

You can:

• Water lawns and gardens using reticulation systems that distribute water through sprinklers or drippers only on your watering days, either once in the morning before 9 am or once in the evening after 6 pm. Water lawns and gardens with a hand held hose at any time so long as the hose only has one outlet. However, it is much more beneficial to plants if you water them early in the morning.
• Use a watering can at any time.
• Only hose or spray buildings, paths and paved areas to:
  • Fight fires;
  • Avoid a threat to health, for example cleaning a chemical spillage, and
  • Construct or repair buildings, paved areas and roads.
• Replace swimming pool water lost through evaporation and usage to the minimum extent needed to maintain the pool’s proper functioning.
• Fill a new swimming pool or spa.
• Wash your car on the lawn rather than the driveway and always use a trigger hose.
• 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.

You can’t:

• Run your reticulation outside your allowed watering days or times to:
  • see if the system is operating or 
  • adjust sprays on sprinklers.
• Water gardens and lawns using reticulation systems that distribute water through sprinklers and drippers in both the morning and evening on your allocated watering days.
• Water lawns and gardens using reticulation systems that distribute water through sprinklers and drippers between the hours of 9am and 6pm on a non-rostered day.
• Clean driveways, walls or windows of buildings with a hose. Use a broom, sponge or squeegee with a bucket of water instead.

However, if you are establishing a lawn or garden you may apply for an exemption in order for it to become fully established.  Call 13 10 39 for more information.   

Daylight Saving

The shift from daylight savings time will not affect the allowed garden watering times. Gardens can be watered by reticulation on your allocated days during either the morning (before 9am) or the evening (after 6pm). You may need to adjust your reticulation system if it is set close to these times. To check your allocated watering days, visit the Watering Roster.

Garden Bores

The use of garden bores is managed by the Department of Water. The Department of Water does not allow anyone with a garden bore across the State to water between the hours of 9am to 6pm and in Perth watering is further limited to certain days based on your house or lot number.  Contact the Department of Water on 1800 508 885 if you notice someone watering outside of these guidelines.

The Water Corporation recommends that customers continue to water wisely. For more information on water efficiency measures visit www.waterwisewaysforWA.com.au