Your business
If you run a business, it's important to understand your responsibilities.
We've explained what you need to know and do.
Water efficiency
Find answers
- What are the Water Wise Guidelines?
Water Wise Guidelines are simple, common sense actions about the way we use drinking water outside.
The NSW Government has announced that Water Wise Guidelines have replaced water restrictions and 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, it will make a big difference across Greater Sydney.Find out more about Water Wise Guidelines. - Why does your business need backflow prevention?
Backflow prevention containment devices stop potentially contaminated water from flowing back into our water pipes.
All properties connected to our water supply must have a backflow prevention containment device fitted that's appropriate to the property's hazard rating.
We'll inspect your property to check if you need a backflow prevention device. If you need one, you have three months to arrange installation.
We recommend that you engage a licensed plumber with backflow prevention accreditation. An accredited plumber can:- determine the hazard rating of your process
- determine the type of device you need
- install, commission and test the device.
Need more information?
Find out more about Backflow prevention and the type of device you need.
Email our Backflow prevention team. - Why don't you have any water?
There are a few common reasons why you might not have any water.
- Occasionally we turn the meter tap off to repair your private water pipes. A plumber may also turn it off while working on your property. Please check the meter tap is in the 'on' position (turn anti-clockwise like normal household taps).
- If you live in a property that shares a water meter, for example a block of units, someone may have turned off the water supply to the entire block to repair a fault. Contact your body corporate or strata management to investigate.
- We may be fixing a broken or damaged water main and need to turn off the water supply to fix it. Register for water outage alerts if you'd like us to notify you when we need to turn off the water supply to your property.
Please check our water supply & service updates map to see if we're working near your property. A problem in a nearby street may affect your property even though you can't see it.
What can you do if you have no water and your meter tap is turned on?
Check for outages
Call 13 20 90 (24 hours/7 days) to report a fault.Check your meter tap if you have no water. The meter tap controls the water supply to your property - it's not a standard garden tap.
- How can you help us manage trade wastewater?
Sydney's wastewater system was originally designed to transport wastewater from homes.
As Sydney has grown, so has the number of commercial and industrial operations. This has resulted in an increase in:- the amount of trade waste discharged to the wastewater system
- demand on our treatment plants
- demand on our waterways.
How you can helpTo help us manage the wastewater system, please remember that:
- all wastewater that enters our system comes out somewhere - either in the form of biosolids, recycled water or treated wastewater that's discharged to rivers or the ocean
- the more waste you put into the wastewater system, the harder our treatment plants have to work. This uses more energy, water and chemicals to keep up with the high levels of treatment required
- solid materials and grease can cause blockages in the wastewater system, resulting in overflows
- people work in and around the wastewater system, and can be harmed if you discharge dangerous materials
- the more we keep out of the wastewater system, the better it is for the environment.
- Why are acceptance standards necessary for trade waste?
Our wastewater treatment plants are designed to provide a satisfactory level of wastewater treatment from homes - not from commercial and industrial customers.
Accepting trade wastewater to our wastewater system means we accept additional operational, environmental and safety risks.
To help manage these risks, we set concentration limits for some substances based on:- protecting the health and safety of workers in and around the wastewater system
- protecting public health
- meeting pollution reduction targets and discharge licence conditions set by the NSW Environment Protection Authority
- protecting our systems and treatment processes.
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