Water restrictions
Level 2 restrictions now apply
The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted a hot summer, with no forecast for significant rain, so Level 2 water restrictions now apply.
Water restrictions target the outdoor use of drinking water, but there are some indoor water uses that are subject to restrictions, such as filling indoor swimming pools and water features, and operating car wash businesses in shopping centre car parks.
The restrictions apply to everyone in Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra. This includes all residents and businesses. If we all do our bit and save a little, together we'll make a big difference.
What's allowed under level 2 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.
You may use any water source available when your property is under threat from fire.
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 we supply you with recycled water through purple pipes, it's excluded from the restrictions.
Residents and businesses
You can water lawns, gardens and sports fields before 10 am and after 4 pm using:
a watering can or bucket (you can water for any amount of time as long as it's early in the morning or late in the afternoon)
drip irrigation systems controlled by a timer for a maximum of 15 minutes a day per watering zone
a compliant 'smart watering system' that includes automated weather adjustment, a rain sensor or a soil moisture sensor for a maximum of 15 minutes a day per watering zone.
A ‘smart watering system’ is a watering system that is controlled by a timer that automatically adjusts its watering pattern based on changes to weather and/or plant water demand using inputs from sensors and/or external weather services. These systems can have different types of head attachments, eg drippers, micro sprayers etc
During water restrictions, you can only use compliant smart watering systems. These must be fixed and permanent (you can't move them around your garden like a sprinkler attached to a hose) with either single or multiple watering zones.
You can't:
use a standard sprinkler, soaker hose, weeping hose or mist sprayer at any time - including when these devices are attached to a smart watering system
water your garden with a hose, even if it has a trigger nozzle or a tap timer attached
leave hoses and taps running unattended
allow water to run off on to hard surfaces, such as paths or roadways
put the sprinklers on for children to play under.
If you have a medical condition or some other special circumstance that means you can’t carry a watering can or bucket or if you have a carer who can only help you at certain times of the day, call us on 13 20 92 to discuss your individual needs or email us with your details.
Find out more about special exemptions for residential customers.
Councils and government
You can water public lawns and gardens of any size:You can water continuous areas of public lawn and gardens, covering areas greater than 30 m2:
You can't:
We understand that sports fields are an important part of community life. Exemptions are available to maintain sports fields 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 a water restrictions exemption for your business.
You can water your garden using a watering can or bucket before 10 am and after 4 pm.
Residents and businesses
You can water new turf using:
Please keep the delivery docket showing the delivery date in case one of our Community Water Officers asks for 'proof of purchase'.
Watering plan for new turf
- Week 1: Water up to three times a day, for a maximum of 30 minutes each session, at any time of day.
- Week 2 & 3: Water up to two times a day, for a maximum of 15 minutes each session. You can only water before 10 am and after 4 pm.
- Week 4: Water before 10 am and after 4 pm, for a maximum of 30 minutes, on no more than three days during that week.
Turf NSW recommends watering established turf no more than once a week.
What can you do if your turf isn't established after four weeks?
If you can still pull the turf layer away from the ground after four weeks, the roots aren't established yet and you may need to apply for an exemption to continue watering outside the restrictions.
Please email your name, contact details, address where you’re establishing the turf, size of the turfed area and reason why you need to keep watering.
You can't:
You can water new turf using a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle for up to four weeks from the delivery date.
Residents and businesses
You can: top up an existing pool or spa, using a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, watering can or bucket for a maximum of 15 minutes a day. You can only do this to replace water lost through evaporation, not to replace water deliberately removed from the pool or spa
fill children's pools that hold less than 500 litres of water.
You can't: fill a new or renovated pool or spa (that holds more than 500 litres) with drinking water unless you have a pool/spa filling permit and an approved pool cover or lockable spa cover in use
leave hoses and taps running unattended
use water toys that connect to a hose, such as a 'slip n' slide'
allow children to play under sprinklers.
For existing pools: We'll only approve a permit to empty and refill a pool where it's unavoidable. We’ll consider each application individually, based on your reason to refill your pool. You must apply for your permit BEFORE you remove any water from the pool.
For new pools and spas: Once you're ready to fill your pool or spa, you or your pool supplier will need to email us the pool owner's name, pool capacity, property address and proposed filling date to receive a one-off pool/spa filling permit. You'll need to have an approved pool cover or lockable spa cover in use to be eligible for a permit.
Please also supply your pool supplier's business water restrictions exemptions permit number where relevant.
For pool or spa maintenance, cleaning or renovation: If you're partly or fully emptying your own pool or spa, email us your name, address, phone number, pool/spa capacity, proposed filling date and the reason why you need to empty and refill the pool or spa. As spas must be emptied and refilled for maintenance more regularly, we may provide a permit to cover you for several refills over 12 months (for spas 500 L to 1,500 L only).
You can top up an existing pool using a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle for a maximum of 15 minutes a day.
Residents
You can:
wash your private car, truck, van, motorbike or caravan using a bucket and sponge or at a commercial car wash
wash your private boat for 10 minutes using a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle 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 leave the hose unattended or allow the tank to overflow
clean bilges using a high-pressure cleaning device or hose fitted with a trigger nozzle
wash your trailered vessel and trailer using a bucket and sponge 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 hose fitted with a trigger nozzle.
You can't:
hose your car, trailer or boat with a hose, even if the hose is fitted with a trigger nozzle, except as described above
clean your vehicle with a high pressure cleaning device if it's connected to the drinking water supply (by a hose)
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 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. Please apply for a water restrictions exemption for your business.
You can wash and rinse your car using a sponge and bucket. Hoses are no longer permitted.
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 hose with a trigger nozzle or a professional animal wash service
use a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, bucket or high-pressure cleaning equipment to clean pens, yards and cages
cool animal enclosures (such as sheds and similar enclosures) to ensure animal welfare or meet legal requirements 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.
Businesses, such as commercial dog washers or animal carers (such as WIRES volunteers) can apply for an exemption to use water other than described above.
Businesses involved in intensive animal production (such as poultry and dairy farms) are already tightly regulated with the use of drinking water for animal welfare and do not need to apply for an exemption.
You can clean or cool animals using a bucket and sponge.
Residents and businesses
You can:
Businesses
In addition to the uses listed above,
you can apply for an exemption to use water:
Residents and businesses
You can't at any time:
You can clean your windows or other hard surfaces using a bucket of water and a cloth.
Residents and businesses
You can:
use recycled water, greywater, rainwater or bore water to fill or top up your pond or water feature.
You can't:
use drinking water to fill or top up your new or existing pond, lake, fountain, or other water feature.
If your pond or lake sustains aquatic life or birds, is heritage-listed or could be damaged by being turned off for long periods, you’ll need to email us to apply for an exemption.
Please tell us your name, property address, capacity of the water feature and why you need the exemption.
You can use recycled water, greywater, rainwater or bore water to fill or top up your water feature as long as it doesn't include drinking water.
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.
We'll try to work with property owners to help them fix leaks on their private property.
If your business relies on using water outdoors and you can't follow the restrictions to continue your operations, you need an exemption permit for each different site.
If you already have a permit for level 1 restrictions, we'll contact you to let you know if we'll be sending a new exemption permit and stickers automatically, if your conditions will change or if you need to re-apply. In the meantime, you can continue using water under the conditions of your level 1 permit.
If you don't have a current exemption permit, you'll need to Apply for a water restrictions exemption for your business. Please read the restrictions and exclusions carefully before applying. We'll assess all new applications against Level 2 restrictions.
Frequently asked questions
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 fill or top up a pond, lake or water feature that sustains aquatic life, is heritage-listed or needs to be run intermittently
- to extend the four-week turf establishment period (if needed).
Find out about special exemptions for residential customers.
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 do have conditions, for example, standard sprinklers are not allowed.
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 wall or window cleaners and path weeders etc) on hard surfaces at any time.
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.
To use a standpipe, you need a standpipe permit from Sydney Water and your standpipe must be metered. Standpipes take drinking water from our network, so whoever uses that water is subject to water restrictions.
If you use a standpipe, you'll need an exemption permit to cover each type of water use for that standpipe. We'll contact water carters and other standpipe owners with advice on what's allowed under the restrictions and whether they need to apply for exemptions. Water carters can only supply drinking water for purposes allowed under 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.
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.
Fines of $220 apply to individuals and $550 for businesses.
We all need to do our bit to save water. You can save thousands of litres by fixing leaks and installing water efficient devices. WaterFix® has already helped save over 300 million litres of water!