How Sydney’s level 2 water restrictions affect you
With minimal rain forecast for the next few months and dam levels at around 45%, authorities decided that on 10 December 2019, the Sydney, Blue Mountains, and Illawarra areas will move to Level 2 Water Restrictions. While many may have experienced the strict water restrictions of the Millennium drought, cutting down on home water use could be a new exercise for many. Lots of our customers have questions about how level 2 water restrictions affect their day to day living, so we’ve put together this handy guide that will serve through future droughts.
What you can’t do during level 2 water restrictions
Sydney residents can’t:
- Use a regular sprinkler, soaker hose, weeping hose, or watering system at any time.
- Let the water run off onto paths, driveways, or roads.
- Allow children or pets to play under sprinklers or use children’s toys that connect to a hose.
- Use a hose with a trigger nozzle, sprinkler, or soaker hose to water new turf after the initial 4-week period.
- Fill a new or renovated pool or spa (larger than 500L) without a permit, pool cover, or lockable spa cover.
- Clean your car using a hose, even with a trigger nozzle.
- Clean external building walls, gutters, or hard surfaces like paths and driveways with a hose or high-pressure cleaner.
- Use water for dust suppression without a permit (unless no alternative is reasonably available).
- Leave hoses or taps running unattended at any time.
- Use drinking water to fill, refill, or top up your new or existing pond, lake, fountain, or water feature.
What you can do during level 2 water restrictions
Residents of Sydney are permitted to:
- Water gardens using a watering can or bucket prior to 10 am and after 4 pm each day.
- Use drip irrigation or smart watering systems for a maximum of 15 minutes prior to 10 am and after 4 pm each day.
- Top up an existing pool or spa using a hose with a trigger nozzle, watering can, or bucket for a max of 15 mins each day to replace water lost through evaporation.
- Wash vehicles with a bucket and sponge or at a commercial car wash.
- Use recycled water, greywater, rainwater, bore, and river water where needed. (Some restrictions and licenses are required; see Sydney Water for details.)
- Water new turf using a handheld hose with a trigger nozzle or use sprinklers and watering systems (continuous area of more than 30㎡) for up to 4 weeks from the delivery date following the Sydney Water New Turf Watering Plan.
- Wash a boat for 10 mins using a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle after the boat has been in seawater.
- Flush boat motors with a bucket or a specially designed flushing device fitted to a hose.
- Fill water tanks on a boat using a hose - do not leave unattended or allow to overflow.
- Clean bilges using a high-pressure device or hose with a trigger fitting.
- Wash a trailered vessel and trailer using a bucket and sponge or a commercial car wash.
- Clean essential safety components of boat trailers using a high-pressure hose or a hose with a trigger nozzle.
- Spot clean hard surfaces for health, safety, or emergency reasons with a hose with a trigger fitting or a high-pressure cleaner.
- Wash a wheelie bin with a bucket or hose with a trigger fitting.
- Wash windows or other glass with a bucket and cloth or engage a window cleaner who has an exemption permit.
- Use recycled water, greywater, rain, or bore water to top up or fill a pond or water feature.
Fines for anyone deliberately misusing or wasting water can be $220 for individuals and $550 for businesses.
There are exemptions for some of these rules. For the full details on level 2 water restrictions in Sydney and how to apply for exemptions visit the Syndey Water website - lovewater.sydney
Water-efficient Sydney homes
Ensure your home is water efficient by repairing water leaks as soon as you find them and upgrading to water-efficient tapware and showerheads. Speak to our team about saving water around your home today.
