Water Wise Rules apply

The Water Wise Rules are:

• Watering, including with sprinklers and irrigation systems, is allowed any day before 10 am and after 4 pm to avoid the heat of the day.
• All hand held hoses must have a trigger nozzle.
• No hosing of hard surfaces such as paths and driveways. Washing vehicles is allowed.
• Fire hoses may be used for fire fighting activities only.

The Water Wise Rules are simple, common sense actions that apply to all Sydney Water customers in Sydney, the Illawarra and the Blue Mountains. This includes residents, businesses, local councils and government agencies.

Sydney Water encourages the community to use their common sense when applying the Water Wise Rules. For example;

• Wash your car on the lawn wherever possible. This will not only water and fertilise your lawn but will also avoid stormwater pollution.
• Avoid any form of outdoor hosing between 10 am and 4 pm to avoid the heat of the day, when evaporation is high.
• Use a broom to clean up leaves, grass clippings, dirt, dust or general litter on paths or driveways instead of hosing.

Being water wise makes good sense. Water efficiency, together with with more recycling projects and desalination coming on line, means greater Sydney is in a stronger position to secure water for life.

Exclusions

Recycled water, bore water and water used for testing fire systems, fire fighting and related activities are exempt from the Water Wise Rules. Water from rainwater tanks is also exempt if it is not topped up from Sydney Water’s supply.

Some government restrictions do apply to bore water and water extracted from rivers, so always check with your local council and the NSW Office of Water.

Fines apply

A fine of $220 applies for all breaches of water saving rules by individuals. Businesses face a fine of $550 for each breach. Fines for water theft are $2,200. Authorised Sydney Water staff will carry out random checks to ensure compliance with the Water Wise Rules.

The following are still permitted at any time:

• Using a bucket or watering can to wash and rinse vehicles or water lawns and gardens.
• Filling a pool or topping up an existing swimming pool.
• Using water from a rainwater tank, as long as it is not connected to or topped up with drinking water. 
• Using water to cool people or animals.
• Using a hose with a trigger nozzle or high pressure cleaning device to clean boat bilges and boat trailer brakes and wheels.
• Using a hose to flush boat engines.
• Cleaning garbage bins using a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle. This should, wherever possible, be done within an official bin wash area or on grass.

Customers who need to establish a new lawn may use sprinklers or watering systems at any time of the day for 14 days from the date of installation. After the first 14 days, sprinklers and watering systems may only be used before 10 am and after 4 pm daily.

Customers may not hose a path, driveway, concrete or paved surface at any time where a broom can be used. Examples include cleaning up leaves, grass clippings, dirt, dust or general litter. 

People may be permitted to hose a path, driveway, concrete or other paved surface for reasons of health, safety, emergency, construction activity or surface discolouration. The reason must be readily identifiable to an authorised officer. 

Examples include:

Safety
• To remove a build up of mould or moss


Health
• To clean the BBQ or outdoor food preparation areas
• To clean food or drink spillages
• To clean up after accidents
• To clean animal droppings
• To clean areas affected by wastewater overflows


Construction
• To prepare a surface for painting or resealing
• To clean surfaces prior to the sale or lease of a property
• To rinse surfaces after construction activity provided that the area is initially cleaned using a shovel and broom


Surface Discolouration
• To remove graffiti
• To remove oil stains
• To remove a build up of rust