Water saving guidelines
Shoalhaven City Council have implemented permanent water saving guidelines that act as full-time water conservation measures. Standard industry practice is for water utilities to have permanent water conservation measures in place to encourage residents to be water conscious all of the time not just during periods of drought.
Permanent water saving guidelines will help water conservation and water usage practices. During a prolonged drought period, water restrictions will be imposed.
Here's an overview:
Water Saving Guidelines
Our water saving guidelines are designed to protect our drinking water supply for future benefits and to encourage unnecessary water wastage.
The guidelines are referred to as Level 1.
Lawns & gardens
- Avoid evaporation and water gardens and lawns before 10am and after 4pm using hand-held hose fitted with trigger nozzle, sprinklers or smart watering systems.
- Hoses must never be left running unattended.
New turf & gardens
- Watering of newly laid turf and gardens at any time for up to 28-days from date of laying or planting.
Vehicles & boats
- Wash your vehicle or boat using a bucket of soapy water, a hand-held hose with trigger nozzle or pressure washer. If possible, do this on the grass.
- Flush boat engines using a hose and flushing device.
Swimming pools, spas & ponds
- Top up your swimming pool or spa at any time. Set a timer to avoid overfilling.
Cooling people and animals
- Water can be used to cool people and animals.
- Water slide operators and recreational facilities can use water where it forms an integral part of their operation.
Buildings & hard surfaces
- Clean buildings (including gutters, walls and windows, solar panels) with a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or pressure washer anytime.
- Clean concrete and paved areas for health, safety, emergency reasons, or for construction activities, with a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or pressure washer anytime.
- Wash garbage bin using hand-held hose fitted with trigger nozzle or pressure washer.
Building & construction
- Use water to safely operate cutting, drilling or tunnelling equipment, or for dust suppression.
Fighting fires & fire system testing
- Water can be used to fight household fires or bushfires that threaten people or property.
- Water can be used for hazard reduction or other essential services.
- Water can be used for the testing of firefighting equipment or services.
- Water can be used for post firefighting cleanup.
Water Restrictions
Water restrictions will be enforced during times of prolonged drought. When water restrictions are in place we must all work together to help conserve our drinking water supply.
Water restrictions refer to Level 2.
Lawns & gardens
- Watering of gardens and lawns permitted in the hours 6am-8am and 6pm-8pm.
- Hand-held hose must be fitted with a trigger nozzle, sprinklers or smart watering systems.
- Hoses must never be left unattended.
New turf & gardens
- Watering of newly laid turf and gardens for up to 28-days of laying or planting before 10am and after 4pm.
Vehicles & boats
- Wash your vehicle or boat using a bucket of soapy water, a hand-held hose with trigger nozzle or pressure washer. If possible, do this on the grass.
Swimming pools, spas & ponds
- Top up your swimming pool or spa at any time with a hose that is fixed to a timer.
Cooling people and animals
- Water can be used to cool people and animals.
- Water slide operators and recreational facilities can use water where it forms an integral part of their operation.
Buildings & hard surfaces
- Residential cleaning of buildings (including gutters, walls and windows, solar panels) with a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or pressure washer between between 6am-8am and 6pm-8pm.
- Business cleaning of buildings to use high pressure cleaning equipment only.
- Clean concrete and paved areas for health, safety, emergency reasons, or for construction activities, with a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or pressure washer anytime.
Building & construction
- Dust suppression for cutting, drilling or tunnelling anytime.
Fighting fires & fire system testing
- Water can be used to fight household fires or bushfires that threaten people or property.
- Water can be used for hazard reduction or other essential services.
- Water can be used for the testing of firefighting equipment or services.
- Water can be used for post firefighting cleanup.
Recognised as water wastage:
- Allowing water to run off onto hard surfaces/roads.
- Leaving hoses and taps running unattended.
- Overfilling pools and spas.
- Cleaning hard surfaces (paths, driveways and paved areas) as part of general cleaning.