Water restrictions

On 1 December 2011, Melbourne’s water restrictions were further eased to Stage 1.

Water restrictions have been an important mechanism for helping everyone in the Melbourne area come through the 13 year drought which eased from around July 2010. Over the last decade residential water use has been at a record low. During 2010-11, consumption averaged just 146 litres per person per day.

As the chart below demonstrates, Melbourne’s water storages would have been significantly lower without restrictions and the adoption of water conservation habits by Melburnians.

The graph below shows a comparison between where water storages would have been (ie. around 15%) in mid 2011 if demand management measures had not been put in place.

Melbourne Water Storage

Source: Melbourne Water website

Guidance on permitted garden watering practices can be obtained from the City West Water website or the Yarra Valley Water website.

In addition to Stage 1 restrictions, permanent water saving rules have also been adopted. Under Stage 1 restrictions the following apply:

Gardens and lawns can be watered at any time on any day using a hand held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle
Manual or automatic watering systems for gardens and lawns can only be used between 6pm and 10pm and 6am and 10am on your nominated watering day
Fountains and water features can be used at any time (so long as they recirculate the water)
Hosing of hard surfaces (concrete, paved areas, driveways etc) is banned.
Cars can be washed using a high pressure cleaning unit or hand held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or a bucket, at any time
Pools and spas greater than 2000 litres capacity can only be filled in accordance with a Water Use Plan.

There is little difference between the requirements of Stage 1 and Permanent Water Rules. The key differences are that under Stage 1:

watering systems can only used on alternate days (odds and evens system, depending on street number)
there are restrictions of filling up pools and spas.

pdf format Stage 1 Water Restrictions Fact Sheet (532.48 KB)

Further information
David Taylor
Water Management Officer
9205 5777
david.taylor@yarracity.vic.gov.au