The Dos and Don'ts of the Water Efficiency Measures

The water efficiency measures 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 9 am and 6 pm 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.