Switch sprinklers off for winter and save precious water

Water Corporation today reminded households, businesses and councils in Perth, Mandurah, parts of the South West and Great Southern regions to switch off garden sprinklers and help save billions of litres of precious water.

 

Last year the Winter Sprinkler Switch-off saved nearly five billion litres of water. 

 

All scheme and domestic bore water users need to switch-off sprinklers, fed by both automatic irrigation and garden hoses, from next Friday, 1 June to 31 August 2018. Hand watering is still permitted.

 

Water Corporation spokesperson Clare Lugar said during winter many lawn varieties grown in Perth were dormant, and evaporation rates and temperatures were generally lower, so gardens do not need extra watering.

 

“Last year, the simple act of turning our sprinklers off for winter saved enough water to fill Optus Stadium to the roof five times,” Ms Lugar said.

 

The Winter Sprinkler Switch-off also applies to many licensed groundwater users that irrigate areas of non-commercial turf, lawn and gardens. Groundwater licence conditions may allow for the watering of active sporting areas to maintain safe use, for bore maintenance and to establish new lawns and gardens for a limited period.

 

Ms Lugar said Water Corporation was making it easy for the community to remember to switch-off sprinklers, by offering free reminders next week, before winter begins on Friday, 1 June.

 

“People can register to receive a reminder next Wednesday, 30 May via text message, Facebook, email or directly to their calendar.”

 

To register, visit www.watercorporation.com.au/wintersprinklerswitchoff

 

“Of course with rain forecast over the next few days people can turn their sprinklers off before winter officially starts and save even more precious water.”

 

Ignoring the Winter Sprinkler Switch-off can result in a $100 fine if witnessed by a Water Corporation Water Efficiency Inspector, or a written warning if reported by a member of the public. If people witness anyone breaching the switch-off, they can report this online at www.watercorporation.com.au/breach or by phoning 13 10 39.

 

In areas not subject to the switch-off, normal watering rosters and the daytime sprinkler ban still apply.

 

For details on how the ban applies to licensed bore water users go to www.water.wa.gov.au

 

Did you know?

 

• The switch-off has been permanent since 2010 and is strongly supported by the community, with 77 per cent of warnings issued in 2017 the result of a report from a member of the public

   PHOTOS/GRAPHIC

 

Pic of a close up of a sprinkler:

 

https://watercorporation.box.com/s/m5hy91j4qfxs1ye37j7uoraika24eub9

 

Graphic from advertising campaign:

https://watercorporation.box.com/s/j1uj82d136whot9zrd8p49b5qxguj7bd

 

List of Local Government Areas where the Winter Sprinkler Switch-off applies

 

Perth and Mandurah	South West/Great Southern
City of Swan	Shire of Dardanup
City of Wanneroo	Shire of Denmark
Shire of Kalamunda	Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup
Shire of Mundaring	Shire of Harvey
Shire of Murray	Shire of Manjimup
Shire of Peppermint Grove	Shire of Nannup
Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale	Shire of Plantagenet
Town of Bassendean	Shire of Waroona
Town of Cambridge	City of Albany
Town of Claremont	City of Bunbury
Town of Cottesloe	Shire of Augusta-Margaret River
Town of East Fremantle	Shire of Boyup Brook
Town of Kwinana	Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes
Town of Mosman Park	City of Busselton
Town of Victoria Park	Shire of Capel
Town of Vincent	Shire of Collie
City of Armadale	Shire of Cranbrook
City of Bayswater
City of Belmont
City of Canning
City of Cockburn
City of Fremantle
City of Gosnells
City of Joondalup
City of Mandurah
City of Melville
City of Nedlands
City of Perth
City of Rockingham
City of South Perth
City of Stirling
City of Subiaco