Stage 3 Water Restrictions
Stage 3 water restrictions for Victoria. If stage one restrictions are in place in your area, the following measures apply.
What Stage 3 means
Watering days and times for your garden
Under Stage 3 water restrictions, plants can be watered on specified watering days within specified times. Even or no-numbered properties may water on even dates of the month and odd-numbered properties may water on odd dates of the month. Everyone may water on the 31st.
Manual dripper systems, a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, watering cans or buckets can be used to water plants as required on specified watering days between 6 – 8 am. If someone in your household is aged 70 years or over, you may water your plants manually at the alternate time of 8 – 10 am.
Automatic dripper systems can be used to water plants as required on specified watering days from midnight – 2am.
Lawns must not be watered at any time with drinking water.
Car washing
Cars can only be washed at a commercial car wash – one that uses 70 litres of water or less per vehicle. Cars may not be washed at home with drinking water.
A bucket filled from a tap can be used to clean windows, mirrors and lights; and spot remove corrosive substances.
Sports grounds
Councils and schools can water sportsgrounds in accordance with the Drought Response Plan or submit a water conservation plan. Special allowances are made for exempt playing surfaces which include: turf cricket wickets, golf tees and greens (not fairways), tennis courts, bowling greens, hockey pitches, running tracks and croquet greens.
Industry
Water restrictions also apply to the industry sector. Businesses using 10 megalitres of water or more per year must complete a water conservation action plan (waterMAPs program).
Water retailers continue to work closely with the biggest industrial, commercial and institutional water users to reduce their consumption.
Pools and spas
A new pool or spa of any size capacity cannot be filled with drinking water. However, a new or existing swimming pool or spa may be filled with an alternative water source such as groundwater.
An existing pool or spa of less than 2,000 litres may be filled by means of a watering can or bucket filled directly from a tap.
An existing pool or spa of greater than 2,000 litres must not be filled except in accordance with a water conservation plan (contact your local water business for more information).
An existing pool or spa must not be topped up except by means of a watering can or bucket, filled directly from a tap. Hoses must not be used.
Greywater can be used at any time
Greywater and rainwater can be used at any time outdoors. For guidelines on safe use, visit www.epa.vic.gov.au. Restrictions do not apply to rainwater collected in a storage tank, provided it is not supplemented with drinking water supply.
Penalties and enforcement
Stage 3 water restrictions must be followed and water patrols are out in force across Melbourne. If you breach the restrictions, you may have your water supply restricted and face fines.
To report a breach, call 13 WATER (13 92837).
Under Stage 3 water restrictions, plants can be watered on specified watering days within specified times. Even or no-numbered properties may water on even dates of the month and odd-numbered properties may water on odd dates of the month. Everyone may water on the 31st.
Manual dripper systems, a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, watering cans or buckets can be used to water plants as required on specified watering days between 6 – 8 am. If someone in your household is aged 70 years or over, you may water your plants manually at the alternate time of 8 – 10 am.
Automatic dripper systems can be used to water plants as required on specified watering days from midnight – 2am.
Lawns must not be watered at any time with drinking water.
Car washing
Cars can only be washed at a commercial car wash – one that uses 70 litres of water or less per vehicle. Cars may not be washed at home with drinking water.
A bucket filled from a tap can be used to clean windows, mirrors and lights; and spot remove corrosive substances.
Sports grounds
Councils and schools can water sportsgrounds in accordance with the Drought Response Plan or submit a water conservation plan. Special allowances are made for exempt playing surfaces which include: turf cricket wickets, golf tees and greens (not fairways), tennis courts, bowling greens, hockey pitches, running tracks and croquet greens.
Industry
Water restrictions also apply to the industry sector. Businesses using 10 megalitres of water or more per year must complete a water conservation action plan (waterMAPs program).
Water retailers continue to work closely with the biggest industrial, commercial and institutional water users to reduce their consumption.
Pools and spas
A new pool or spa of any size capacity cannot be filled with drinking water. However, a new or existing swimming pool or spa may be filled with an alternative water source such as groundwater.
An existing pool or spa of less than 2,000 litres may be filled by means of a watering can or bucket filled directly from a tap.
An existing pool or spa of greater than 2,000 litres must not be filled except in accordance with a water conservation plan (contact your local water business for more information).
An existing pool or spa must not be topped up except by means of a watering can or bucket, filled directly from a tap. Hoses must not be used.
Greywater can be used at any time
Greywater and rainwater can be used at any time outdoors. For guidelines on safe use, visit www.epa.vic.gov.au. Restrictions do not apply to rainwater collected in a storage tank, provided it is not supplemented with drinking water supply.
Penalties and enforcement
Stage 3 water restrictions must be followed and water patrols are out in force across Melbourne. If you breach the restrictions, you may have your water supply restricted and face fines.
To report a breach, call 13 WATER (13 92837).