New watering day roster for the West Pilbara

Starting 1 April 2026, scheme water sprinkler rosters in the City of Karratha will move to a three day per week sprinkler roster for an initial 6-month trial period. To support customers during the change, we’re offering a free service to reprogram irrigation controllers to the new watering days.

Why have the watering days changed?

Towns in the West Pilbara Water Supply Scheme, including Karratha, Wickham, Dampier, Roebourne, and Point Samson, rely on groundwater from the Millstream bore field and surface water from Harding Dam for their drinking water.

Long periods of low rainfall, combined with a growing population and local industry, have placed increasing pressure on our local water sources. Over the past 30 years, streamflow into Harding Dam has fallen by 80%.

The new watering day roster will reduce this pressure as work continues to help shape the region’s water future.

What are my new watering days?

From 1 April 2026, the sprinkler roster in the City of Karratha will move to three watering days per week. This small change means one less watering day each fortnight, but it will save millions of litres of water during the cooler months. 

Remember to only water once before 9am or after 6pm on your rostered days. Watering in the morning is best as the cooler temperature means less evaporation and allows plants to use water throughout the day when they need it most.

Your watering days are based on the last digit of your property’s street number. You can check your watering days using your property's lot number, only if you don't have a street number. See the table below or check your watering days using our online tool.

West Pilbara free irrigation controller reset service

We’re providing a free controller reset service for an irrigation contractor to reprogram your automatic controller to the new watering days. Registrations for this service are open until 31 August 2026 (subject to availability).

register now

How do I reprogram the irrigation controller myself?

For many people reprogramming their controller is surprisingly straightforward so we’ve put together a detailed guide on how to program your own irrigation controller. Most controllers follow the same steps:

1. Open ‘Program/Set schedule/Watering days’
2. Select your rostered watering days only
3. Set start time(s) so watering runs before 9am or after 6pm
4. Review run times for each station so your garden gets the right amount
5. Save, then run a short manual test

To get instructions for your specific irrigation system, you can download your controller’s manual from the Watershed website. 

How will the new watering days be enforced?

Our inspectors follow up on reports of non‑compliance and a $100 on‑the‑spot fine may be issued for breaching the watering day roster.

What about my garden?

You can maintain a healthy lawn and garden on three watering days per week, especially if your controller is set correctly and you adjust for the season. Earlier this year, we commissioned an independent review on watering schedules in the West Pilbara. It found that you can still maintain a healthy a lawn and garden with a three-day watering schedule over the cooler months.

Three tips to prepare your garden

Tip 1: Prepare your soil 

West Pilbara soils usually benefit from enrichment, so we recommend breaking up heavy clay or dusty soil with compost or other organic matter to improve structure and drainage. You can also use a wetting agent and apply coarse mulch to help the soil retain moisture and protect roots from heat. For more tips on keeping your soil healthy, check out our soil improvement guide.

Tip 2: Choose the right plants 

If you’re planning a new garden or want to make some changes using waterwise plants suited to our climate with less watering needs, waterwise plants are low maintenance and look great all year-round. Use our waterwise plant directory to find plants that will grow best where you live and check our guide for waterwise garden designs in the North West region.

Tip 3: Water wisely 

Lawns and gardens only need 10mm of water each watering day. Because different sprinklers deliver water at different rates, it can be hard to know how long each irrigation station should run. To avoid overwatering, check the recommended runtime for your specific sprinkler type.

Find more ways to save water

Saving water isn’t limited to your garden. Discover simple and easy water saving tips you can follow to make your home more waterwise and be part of a collective effort to save water for future generations.