What the levels mean

• Only water the garden before 10 am or after 4 pm. This avoids watering during the hottest part of the day, when water wastage and evaporation is high.
• Trigger nozzles to be used on all handheld hoses. Trigger nozzles provide more control over water flow and reduce wastage.
• Avoid hosing down hard surfaces, such as concrete, paths and driveways. Use a broom or leaf blower, or if water is required, use a high-pressure cleaner or water efficient nozzle.

Periods of Everyday Waterwise Guidelines are not enforced by Council but residents are encouraged to reduce their water use in line with the Waterwise guidelines to reduce the impact of the drought going froward.

• Sprinklers restricted to 2 hrs per day
• Wash down hard / paved surfaces and vehicles with high pressure hose only.
• Filling and topping up of pools and spas is permitted
• Maximum water usage target - 250 L/p/d (litres per person per day)

This is the first level of water restrictions and is more focused on general awareness rather than trying to achieve significant reductions in usage. The key measure is to limit the hours that sprinklers can be used and generally the impact on residences and their gardens would be relatively minor. Actions are mainly preparatory measures that activate the Drought Management Plan and its various components.

• No sprinklers. Drippers & hoses restricted to 2 hrs per day
• Washing down hard/ paved surfaces and vehicles with hoses is restricted to 2 hrs per day
• Filling and topping up of pools and spas is permitted
• Maximum water usage target – 225 L/p/d (litres per person per day)

This level includes a ban on sprinklers and a time limit for drippers and hoses. The focus is on reducing usage back below typical levels for that time of year and the measures are likely to cause a moderate level of inconvenience to the community, without necessarily having significant impacts on most lawns and gardens. Key actions include setting up more regular liaison with key government stakeholders and preparing supplementary supply sources.

• No sprinklers or drippers. Buckets restricted to 2 hrs per day or one hose for 15 min
• No hoses are allowed to be used for washing down hard/paved surfaces or vehicles. Buckets restricted to 2 hrs per day
• Topping up pools and spas during 15 minutes of handheld hosing within 2-hour window is permitted
• Maximum water usage target – 200 L/p/d (litres per person per day)

This level includes banning all forms of outdoor watering, other than buckets for 2 hours or a hose for 15 minutes per day (within the same 2 hour window), and will have a more significant impact on lawns and gardens and cause a significant inconvenience to most residences. The aim is to reduce usage well below typical levels while still allowing gardens to be maintained, albeit at a base level. Key actions include more focus on issuing warning and fines for violation of restrictions, stepping up the community awareness campaign, activating supplementary supply sources and if necessary, investigating emergency supply options.

• No watering at any time
• No washing down of hard/paved surfaces or vehicles at any time
• No filling or topping up pools or spas
• Maximum water usage target – 175 L/p/d (litres per person per day)

This severe level of water restrictions includes banning all outdoor watering to reduce usage to around winter levels and would have a major impact on lawns and gardens, including loss of gardens in many cases. The re-establishment of lawns and gardens after an extended period of severe restrictions could impose a relatively high cost on residences and therefore, the application of Level 4 restrictions or higher would only occur in very rare circumstances. Key actions include the activation of a drought taskforce, investigation / design of emergency supply options and stepping up issuing of fines for violation of restrictions.

• No watering at any time
• No washing down of hard/paved surfaces or vehicles at any time
• No filling or topping up pools or spas
• Maximum water usage target – starts at 150 L/p/d (litres per person per day) and reduces to 100 L/p/d where severe drought conditions continue

This extreme level of restrictions would involve an all-out campaign to reduce usage to absolute minimum levels by eliminating all non-essential usage and would have a major impact on nearly all residences and businesses. Residences may be asked to reduce shower times and limit washing machine loads. Business may be asked to restrict water usage to only essential services, with the possible shutting down of non-essential, water dependent services. Key actions include implementing emergency response / supply options and an all-out community water reduction appeal.