Residents and businesses

You can water lawns, gardens and sports fields using:

 a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, a watering can or a bucket before 10 am and after 4 pm

 drip irrigation systems  

 a compliant 'smart watering system' that includes automated weather adjustment, a rain sensor or a soil moisture sensor. 

You can't:

 water your garden using standard sprinklers or watering systems
 
 allow water to run off on to hard surfaces, such as paths or roadways

 put the sprinklers on for children to play under.

Watering sports fields
We understand that sports fields are an important part of community life. Exemptions are available for organisations and businesses to make it easier to maintain sports fields, race tracks and playing surfaces.

We'll consider each application on a case-by-case basis and conditions will apply.

If you don't have a current exemption permit, you'll need to apply for an exemption. 

Apply here for a business exemption
 
 

Residents and businesses

You can water new turf using:

 a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle for up to four weeks from the delivery date, following the watering plan below. This applies to areas of any size

 sprinklers and watering systems for up to four weeks from the delivery date, following the watering plan below. This only applies if you have a continuous area of new turf larger than    30 m ².

Please keep the delivery docket showing the delivery date, in case one of our Community Water Officers asks for 'proof of purchase'.

You can't:

 use sprinklers, a soaker hose or other standard watering system after the four-week watering plan, unless you have an exemption permit

 leave hoses and taps running unattended

 water the area around new turf or allow water to run off onto hard surfaces.

Residents and businesses

You can:

 top up an existing pool or spa, using a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, watering can or bucket. You can only do this to replace water lost through evaporation, not to replace water deliberately removed from the pool or spa. Topping up the pool or spa must not be used as an alternative to fixing leaks
 
 fill new or existing pools or spas that hold 10,000 litres of water or less with drinking water, without a pool/spa filling permit.

You can't:
 fill new or existing pools or spas that hold more than 10,000 litres with drinking water, unless you have a pool/spa filling permit and an approved pool cover or lockable spa cover in use

 allow the pool or spa to overflow when filling or topping up 

 allow children to play under sprinklers. 

Residents 

You can:
 wash your private car, truck, van, motorbike or caravan using a bucket and sponge, hand-held hose with a trigger nozzle, high pressure water cleaning equipment or at a commercial car wash 

 wash your private boat for 10 minutes using a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle at a public boat ramp or marina, after the boat has been in seawater

 flush boat motors with a bucket or a purpose-designed flushing device connected to a hose

 fill water tanks on a boat using a hose, as long as you don't allow the tank to overflow

 clean bilges using a high pressure cleaning device or hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle

 wash your trailered vessel and trailer using a bucket and sponge, hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or at a commercial car wash

 clean essential safety components of boat trailers (eg wheel bearings or brakes) using a high pressure cleaning device or hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle.

You can't:

 hose your car, trailer or boat with a hose, unless the hose is fitted with a trigger nozzle or using high pressure cleaning equipment

 leave hoses and taps running unattended.

Businesses

Businesses washing a small number of vehicles

This applies to businesses that would use a similar amount of water to an average family when washing vehicles.

You can:
 wash your car, truck or van using a bucket and sponge, hand-held hose with a trigger nozzle or at a commercial car wash.
 

Businesses washing a large number of vehicles

This applies to businesses such as car wash and detailing businesses, car sales yards, car fleet maintenance and management, and any businesses that operate many vehicles. 

You can:
 wash your cars, trucks or vans only if you have received a business exemption.

Apply here for a business exemption

Residents

You can:

 wash buildings or parts of buildings (such as gutters, windows, walls) using a bucket and cloth/sponge, a hand-held hose with a trigger nozzle or high pressure water cleaning equipment. You can also engage a professional cleaner who has an exemption permit
  
 use a broom to clean paths, driveways and other hard surfaces

 spot clean hard surfaces for health, safety or emergency reasons, using a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or high pressure cleaning equipment

 use water for dust suppression for health or environmental reasons, using a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, bucket or watering can. You can only do this if there is no alternative water source (such as recycled water) available

 wash your garbage bin using water from a bucket or a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle.

You can't at any time:

 clean hard surfaces such as paths, driveways and paved areas with a hose or high pressure cleaner as part of general cleaning

 leave hoses and taps running unattended.

Businesses

You can:

 use a broom to clean paths, driveways and other hard surfaces

 spot clean hard surfaces for health, safety or emergency reasons, using a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or high pressure cleaning equipment

 use water for dust suppression for health or environmental reasons, using a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, bucket or watering can. You can only do this if there is no alternative water source (such as recycled water) available
 
 apply for an exemption to clean buildings, parts of buildings and other hard surfaces to prepare for construction or renovation using a high pressure cleaning device, hand-held hose with a trigger nozzle, bucket or watering can. 

You can't:

 clean buildings, parts of buildings or hard surfaces of any kind as part of general cleaning without an exemptions permit. 

Apply here for a business exemption

   
 

Residents and businesses

You can:
 provide drinking water for animals, including birds. If you use a hose, it must be fitted with a trigger nozzle

 clean or cool animals using a bucket and sponge, a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or a professional animal wash service

  clean pens, yards and cages using use a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, bucket or high-pressure cleaning equipment

 cool animal enclosures (such as sheds and similar enclosures) to ensure animal welfare, using:

• dedicated sprinklers used only for cooling between 6 am and 9 pm when the temperature inside the shed is higher than 30 °C
• fogging systems, misting systems or cooling pads at any time.

You can't:
 leave hoses running unattended

 use a hose without a trigger nozzle 
 
 use sprinklers except as outlined above for cooling of sheds and similar enclosures. 

 

Residents and businesses

While we do all we can to repair leaks quickly on our water supply system, many leaks that are reported to us are on private property and we can't fix them. If there's a leak on your property, we may ask you to engage a plumber to repair the leak.

Where relevant, we’ll refer you to one of our water saving programs:

• WaterFix^® Residential is a service where our qualified plumbers fix leaking taps and fixtures around your home and install water saving fittings like 4 star showerheads for free.
• WaterFix^® Concealed Leaks is a service which helps find and repair hidden leaks.
• PlumbAssist^® is a service for customers with payment difficulties who require essential plumbing services. This is one of the services we offer if you need help with your bill.

Our aim is always to work with you to fix leaks. If you don't respond when we ask you to fix a leak, you may be subject to fines under the water restrictions.

 

 

Residents and businesses

You can:

 use any available water source to fight housefires or bushfires that threaten property 

 do whatever is necessary to prepare your property if it is under imminent threat from bushfire

 test fire services

 use water to clean up after a fire threat has passed, eg you can use a hose to remove fire retardant materials if necessary.
 
You can't:

 use a fire hose to clean public amenities or other hard surfaces. Fire hoses can only be used for firefighting, testing and related activities.

The following water sources are not affected by water restrictions. However, many of these water sources have other controls on how they can be used and it's still important to use all water wisely.

What's excluded from the water restrictions?

• Recycled water (supplied in some parts of Sydney from purple pipes).
• Greywater (water that's collected after being used in washing machines, sinks and showers etc).
• Rainwater (as long as the tank/dam isn't topped up from, or switched to, the drinking water supply).
• Bore water (some government restrictions apply).
• River water (you need to have a licence).

If you see someone deliberately misusing water, you can  make a report about water restrictions.

Please check what's allowed before you submit a report as some exclusions apply to the water restrictions and many non-residential customers will have an exemption permit.

Our Community Water Officers will follow up on any reports we receive and can issue fines of $220 for individuals or $550 for businesses.

Exemptions are designed to allow businesses that depend on outdoor water use to continue with their primary business activities during restrictions. Businesses can apply for an exemption permit from the restrictions.

Residential customers can’t normally apply for exemptions to water restrictions, but can apply for an exemption:

• if they have special circumstances, for example medical reasons
• to fill a new or renovated pool or spa
• to extend the four-week turf establishment period (if needed).  

Find out about special exemptions for residential customers.

We'll give exemptions to some businesses that rely on water to continue their main business activity. We try hard to balance the needs of all our customers with the need to protect the water supply.

This means that some tradespeople, such as gardeners and builders, who may work on your property can use water within the conditions of their water restrictions exemptions permit. Their permit may include watering between 10 am and 4 pm or watering hard surfaces to enable them to operate their business at their customers' various properties.

Permits have strict conditions, and businesses can lose their permit or be fined if they do not follow their permit conditions.

If you're concerned, ask your contractor about their exemption. When we approve an exemption, we provide a permit and sticker to display at their place of business or on their vehicles, so they can explain to customers.

You can use hose-on fertiliser/chemical products on your lawn and garden as long as:

• the sprayer has an on-off water flow control on the handpiece
• you shut off the water flow as soon as the container is empty. Continued use of the hose when you're not applying a fertiliser or other product is not allowed.

Can you use hose-on products on other surfaces?

You can't use hose-on products, such as path weeders on hard surfaces at any time.

To use a standpipe, you need a standpipe permit from Sydney Water and your standpipe must be metered. Water carters and other standpipe users take drinking water from our network, so whoever uses that water is subject to water restrictions.

Metered standpipes can't be used for agricultural, private or domestic use, or to supply water as an alternative to a property’s normal water service. This is a breach of the terms of our standpipe permits and is not allowed at any time.

If you use a standpipe, you must apply for a water restrictions exemption as well as your standpipe permit. If you cannot comply with the restrictions, you'll need an exemption permit for each type of water use, for example dust suppression, construction activities etc.

Apply here for a business exemption

It's important that we manage our water supply effectively - especially during severe drought conditions. 

Sydney’s water supply is planned and secured through the Metropolitan Water Plan. This is the NSW Government’s plan to ensure there's enough water now and in the future.

Find out about all the elements of our  drought response.