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Water is one of our most precious resources, essential for life.
Permanent Water Saving Rules are in place across the state every day of the year. These simple, common-sense rules help us all use drinking water wisely to reduce waste and ensure we’re doing our part to safeguard it for generations to come.
While most people do the right thing, it’s important to know that breaking the rules can lead to penalties.
These rules apply only to drinking water - not greywater, rainwater, bore water, or recycled water.
Below is a summary of the rules. For full details, please refer to our Permanent Water Saving Plan or FAQ below
There are many more water saving steps we can each take to go above and beyond these basic rules see how you can reduce your use here.
Hoses
Hoses must be leak free with a trigger nozzle for all uses, including washing cars and gardens. Trigger nozzles ensure less water is wasted.
Garden watering
Home and commercial gardens can only be watered between 6pm and 10am, if using watering systems. This avoids the hottest part of the day when water wastage occurs due to evaporation.
You can water gardens at any time using a hand-held hose, watering can or bucket.
Hard surfaces
Water must not be used to clean hard surfaces such as concrete, paths and driveways. Exemptions apply when cleaning is needed to address a hazard, surface staining or during construction, see FAQ for more information.
In these situations, a high-pressure water cleaning device must be used if one is available. Otherwise, a hand-held hose or a bucket can be used.
Swapping to a broom will save a lot of water from being washed down the drain.
Permanent Water Saving Rules Frequently Asked Questions
As the rules do restrict water use, they can be considered a basic form of restrictions, and – like restrictions – are enforceable under law. However, unlike staged (numbered) water restrictions, the water saving rules are permanent and don’t have an end date.
The permanent water saving rules are in place to help conserve our water supply into the future.
A high-pressure water cleaner is an electric or petrol-powered device that connects to a hose, forcing water out at high pressure for more effective cleaning.
The rate of delivery must be 9 litres per minute or less.
A watering system is any automatic or manually operated system of sprinklers, drip hoses, weep hoses, etc. Even a simple garden sprinkler connected to a tap is considered a watering system.
The most efficient and effective watering system is a sub-surface drip hose, connected to a timer to water overnight. This ensures plants get water near their roots, and minimises water loss to evaporation.
It’s more efficient and effective to water your garden when the sun goes down. Lower evaporation means water is more likely to get to plant roots.
Water can only be used to clean hard surfaces (including, driveways, paths, concrete, tiles, timber decking) when:
- where cleaning is required as a result of an accident, fire, health hazard, safety hazard or other emergency; or
- if staining to the surface has developed and then only once a season; or
- in the course of construction or renovation,
and then only by means of
• a high-pressure water cleaning device.
• or if such a device is not available, a hand-held hose or a bucket.
No the Permanent Water Saving Rules apply only to drinking water supplied through our reticulation network.
No.
Yes. There are no restrictions on washing windows.
Cars, boats and other vehicles can be washed at home at any time or any day, using
- a high-pressure water cleaner; or
- a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle; or
- a bucket or watering can.
The same rules apply to car dealerships.
Yes. There are no restrictions on filling or topping up pools, spas or ponds under the Permanent Water Saving Rules.
Breaching the Permanent Water Saving Rules can result in fines.
For a first offence you can be fined over 10 penalty units and for a subsequent offence over 20 penalty units.
Permanent water saving rules are enforced under the Water Act (1989).
If you witness a breach of the rules, please contact your water corporation with details of the offence. An authorised water officer will investigate and report. Official warnings and on-the-spot fines can be issued for offences, and in severe cases, prosecution may be sought.
Yes, water can be used at any time for:
(a) human health requirements;
(b) stock and animal health requirements;
(c) fire fighting; or
(d) the safety of, but not the cleaning of, vehicles or equipment.
In other special circumstances you can request an exemption from some permanent water saving rules <link to permanent water saving plan> or a stage of water restrictions <link to page on restrictions>.
Some exemptions also require a Water Use Plan. Water Use Plans help to manage the use of water for specific purposes or for a specific stage of restrictions. They assist in maximising water-savings during water restrictions.
Applications for exemptions can be made from residential customers, on behalf of a business, company, industry or commercial or industrial organisation, or on behalf of a council, public or private school, a sportsground, a public garden or a tennis club.
Applications must be made via our website, though an application form.
Our Water Use Plan outlines the measures that are already being used or that are planned on being used to assist in saving water. It controls the use of water for specific purposes or for a specific stage of restrictions. It helps to maximise water-savings during restrictions.