Water restrictions
Level 1 water restrictions are in place
More than 85% of Greater Sydney’s water supply relies on rain. This means that our water is in short supply during prolonged droughts.
Water restrictions limit how and when we use drinking water outdoors.
Water restrictions apply to everyone in Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra. This includes both 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 1 water restrictions?
You can water lawns and gardens:
before 10 am or after 4 pm using a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle
between 10 am and 4 pm using a watering can or bucket
any time with drip irrigation systems
any time with watering systems featuring one of these:
- automated weather adjustment
- rain sensor
- soil moisture sensor.
Call 13 20 92 or email us, if you have a carer come to help you at certain times of the day, and we'll try to consider your individual needs.
You can water new turf: for one week after it's delivered, as long as you follow the instructions provided by the turf supplier.
You cannot at any time:
Email us to tell us why you need more than a week to establish your lawn. Please include your name, phone number, property address, turf supplier's details, the date the turf was laid and the area covered by the new turf (in square metres). We may ask you for a delivery docket or other proof of purchase.
You can:
top up an existing pool or spa with drinking water to replace water lost through evaporation
fill a new or renovated pool that holds less than 10,000 litres with drinking water without a permit.
You cannot: fill a new or renovated pool or spa that holds more than 10,000 litres with drinking water, if you don't have a one-off pool filling permit and an approved pool cover permanently attached to the pool. Your pool supplier must have a business water restriction exemption permit before they work on your pool at your property.
Once you have your approved pool cover and you're ready to fill your pool, ask your pool supplier to email us the details (owner's name, pool capacity, property address, proposed date to fill the pool and their business water restrictions exemptions permit number) to receive a one-off pool filling permit for your pool.
If you're partly or fully emptying your own pool, email us your name, address, phone number, pool capacity and proposed date to fill the pool.
You cannot at any time:
flush boat engines using a specially designed flushing device attached to the hose
clean bilges and essential safety components on boat trailers, such as brakes and wheels using a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or high pressure cleaning equipment.
You cannot at any time: wash vehicles and buildings using a hose without a trigger nozzle
leave hoses and taps running unattended.
Apply for an exemption permit from the water restrictions.
Water your garden before 10 am or after 4 pm
Frequently asked questions
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The on-off control must enable you to quickly and completely shut off the flow of water through the sprayer when the chemical is not being actively applied.
It is important that you turn the water flow off when you're not actually applying the chemical.
If you're a non-residential customer and you use water outdoors, you may be able to apply for an exemption. Please read the restrictions and exclusions carefully first as you may not need to apply for an exemption.
Find out more about water restrictions exemption requests.
Fines of $220 apply to individuals and $550 for businesses*
* We will issue fines for breaching water restrictions from 1 September.
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!