Stage 3 now in place
ACT's water restrictions scheme applies to ACTEW's potable water (‘drinking’ or ‘tap’ water). Non-potable sources are not restricted in the table below.
Private gardens and lawns Commercial nurseries, market gardens and turf-growing businesses |
Plants: A hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, a bucket or a watering can may be used to water plants between 7am and 10am and between 7pm and 10pm on alternate days as per the ‘odds and evens’ system.
General exemption applies from: 13 December 2008 to 1 February 2009 inclusive.
The following exemption is intended for residents who will be away during the Christmas holiday period to maintain their gardens. Whilst it is understood that some automatic sprinkler systems are connected to both lawns and gardens, ACTEW strongly encourage the public to only utilise this exemption for their plants
A general exemption exists during the period 13 December 2008 to 1 February 2009 to allow sprinklers and other irrigation systems to be used to water lawns and plants between 7pm and 10pm only, on:
- SATURDAYS for premises with an EVEN street number; and
- SUNDAYS for premises with an ODD street number.
At all times lawns and gardens may only be watered without causing pooling or runoff.
At all other times, normal Stage 3 water restrictions apply in relation to watering private lawns and plants.
Drippers: As an alternative to hand-held hoses, buckets or watering cans, drippers may be used for watering plants between 7am and 10am and between 7pm and 10pm on alternate days as per the ‘odds and evens’ system.
Sprinklers: No sprinkler or other irrigation systems may be used (drippers exempt as per above).
Lawns: Watering of lawns is not permitted.
At all times gardens may only be watered without causing pooling or runoff.
Landscape Contractors
Ongoing general exemption
Businesses contracted to install new plants (not new lawns) may water outside allowed watering hours provided that:
- Watering occurs within ONE hour after planting each plant;
- Watering is done by hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, a bucket or watering-can; and
- No more water is used than is reasonably required for initial establishment of the plant.
At all times gardens may only be watered without causing pooling or runoff.
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Lawns and plants at parks, sports amenities, golf courses and public gardens |
A target of a 35% reduction in water use should be met.
At all times lawns and plants may only be watered without causing pooling or runoff.
Exemptions may be granted from: 1 November 2008 to 30 November 2008 inclusive.
Exemptions may be granted for increased watering of lawns at parks, sports amenities and golf courses for the purpose of converting existing lawns to warm season grasses (such as Couch or soft-leaf Buffalo) during November 2008.
As a condition of any exemption granted, watering associated with the conversion of any such lawns must be undertaken in accordance with the ‘Watering Guideline’ in the Turf Grass Association of Australia’s publication Best practice for conversion to Warm Season Grasses in the ACT Region (available at http://www.tgaa.asn.au).
ACTEW will only grant exemptions in writing.
For details on how to apply for an exemption click here.
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Paved areas |
Water must not be used to clean paved areas unless necessary as a result of accident, fire, health hazard or other emergency.
More information
Examples of situations where cleaning of paved areas may be necessary as a result of accident, fire, health hazard or other emergency include (but are not limited to):
- spillage of harmful chemicals;
- spillage of substances that present a possible slip or other health or safety concern; and
- overflow of sewerage or excrement on paved areas.
General exemption applies from: 15 November 2008 to 30 November 2008 inclusive.
A general exemption exists to allow paved areas to be cleaned at any time during the period 15 to 30 November 2008 using a bucket and mop/brush or high-pressure low-volume cleaner.
Outside the period 15 to 30 November 2008, water must not be used to clean paved areas unless necessary as a result of accident, fire, health hazard or other emergency.
Note - where washing is necessary as a result of accident, fire, health hazard or other emergency, such cleaning may be undertaken at any time using the most appropriate method.
For Environment Protection Authority guidelines on how to carry out household activities whilst protecting the stormwater system, click here.
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Private ponds and
fountains |
Fountains must be switched off.
Only ponds that support fish may be topped up, and then only using a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, a bucket or a watering can. |
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Public ponds and
fountains |
No fountains may be operated or filled or topped up.
Existing ponds must not be filled or topped up. New ponds may not be filled. |
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Private swimming pools |
Pools must not be emptied, filled or topped up without written exemption.
Exemptions may be granted from: 1 November 2008 to 28 February 2009 inclusive.
Exemptions may be granted to fill new and existing private swimming pools between 1 November 2008 and 28 February 2009, provided that the exemption application includes evidence that demonstrates to ACTEW’s satisfaction that the following criteria have been met at the premises where the swimming pool is located:
- the swimming pool is covered when not in use; and
- at least three of the following are satisfied:
- the swimming pool uses a cartridge filtration system instead of a sand filter; and/or
- the swimming pool filter uses a water efficient medium instead of sand for filtration. A “water efficient medium” includes any filtration device (such as recycled glass) able to demonstrate a 20% or greater reduction in water use; and/or
- has at least one rainwater tank installed for use; and/or
- drip irrigation systems are installed on most (that is, more than 50 percent) of the garden beds; and/or
- mulch is used on all garden beds; and/or
- rain/soil moisture sensors are installed on, and are used in conjunction with, a garden irrigation system; and/or
- at least one of the occupiers has had a GardenSmart* service carried out by the ACT Government; and/or
- at least one of the occupiers has
- attended an ACTEW Waterwise Gardening Workshop**; or
- completed an ACTEW Waterwise Gardening Quiz online**; and/or
- has two or more of the following devices installed†:
- dual-flush toilets;
- three-star or better water efficient showerheads;
- four-star or better water efficient washing machine;
- tap aerators
* Requires appearance on ACT Government’s attendance list.
**Requires appearance on ACTEW’s attendance list OR a receipt number issued after completing the online quiz.
† Requires confirmation from a licensed plumber by completing this form or by contacting ACTEW on 6248 3131 to arrange a form to be sent to you.
Ongoing general exemption: Topping up private swimming pools
An ongoing general exemption is in place that allows private swimming pools to be topped up, provided that:
- the pool is registered with ACTEW; and
- the topping up is conducted in accordance with the following conditions.
Exemption conditions applicable to topping up existing swimming pools
Where a pool cover is used when the pool is not in use
Existing pools that are covered when not in use by a pool blanket or similar that covers at least 80% of the water surface area may be topped up by a hand-held attended hose between 7-10am or between 7-10pm on alternate days as per the ‘odds and evens’ system.
Where a pool cover is not used
Existing pools that are not covered when not in use by a pool blanket or similar that covers at least 80% of the water surface area may be topped up between 7-10am or between 7-10pm on alternate days as per the ‘odds and evens’ system but only by use of a bucket or watering can filled directly from a tap and not a hose.
Pool registration
As a condition of the general exemption allowing pools to be topped up, private pool owners must have registered their pool with ACTEW by completing and lodging the pool registration form prior to topping up their pool.
Once the pool registration form has been fully completed and lodged, pools may be topped up in accordance with the applicable exemption conditions below.
Registration of pool ownership form
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Public swimming pools |
Pools must not be emptied, filled or topped up without written exemption. |
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Water storage tanks,
dams and lakes |
Must not be filled or topped up. |
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Vehicles |
No washing of any vehicle except at a commercial car wash that recycles water and holds an exemption allowing use of potable water. Boat motors may be flushed or rinsed after use.
General exemption applies from: 15 November 2008 to 30 November 2008 inclusive.
The following general exemption exists during the period 15 to 30 November 2008: if not washed at a commercial car wash, vehicles may be washed provided that:
- they are washed on a lawn or other porous surface wherever practicable; and
- they are washed using:
- a bucket or watering can;
- a high-pressure low-volume cleaner; or
- a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle.
Outside the period 15 to 30 November 2008, vehicles must not be washed except at a commercial car wash that recycles water and holds an exemption allowing use of potable water.
For Environment Protection Authority guidelines on how to carry out household activities whilst protecting the stormwater system, click here.
Ongoing general exemption: Vehicle washing to assist with safety
Notwithstanding the restrictions on washing vehicles listed above, the following general exemption is granted on an ongoing-basis to assist with vehicle safety:
Vehicle windows, mirrors and lights
Potable water may be used to clean a vehicle’s windows, mirrors and lights, and for spot removing corrosive substances, and then only with a bucket filled directly from a tap (not by means of a hose).
Motorcycles
Motorcycles may be cleaned once per month only, and then only with a bucket or watering can (not by means of a hose).
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Windows and
buildings |
No washing unless necessary as a result of accident, fire, health hazard or other emergency. Building gutters may be cleaned at any time.
More information
Examples of situations where cleaning of buildings or windows may be necessary as a result of accident, fire, health hazard or other emergency include (but are not limited to):
- spillage of harmful chemicals;
- spillage of substances that present a possible slip or other health or safety concern; and
- overflow of sewerage or excrement on buildings or windows.
General exemption applies from: 15 November 2008 to 30 November 2008 inclusive.
A general exemption exists to allow windows and buildings to be cleaned at any time during the period 15 to 30 November 2008 using a bucket and mop/brush or high-pressure low-volume cleaner.
Outside the period 15 to 30 November 2008, water must not be used to clean windows or buildings unless necessary as a result of accident, fire, health hazard or other emergency. However, building gutters may be cleaned at any time.
Note - where washing is necessary as a result of accident, fire, health hazard or other emergency, such cleaning may be undertaken at any time using the most appropriate method.
For Environment Protection Authority guidelines on how to carry out household activities whilst protecting the stormwater system, click here.
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Construction and
related activities |
Unless impractical, water may only be used by means of a hose fitted with a flow cut-off device. Wherever practicable non-potable water should be used. ACTEW is making available recycled water to assist. Details here.
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In general, no variations to the exemptions set out above will be permitted unless customers can demonstrate serious detriment from the application of the Water Restrictions Scheme or a particular stage of restrictions.
Apply for an exemption here.
ACTEW reserves the right to vary or revoke exemptions at any time.
For more ways to save water, click here.
Download the full scheme of Temporary Water Restrictions.
ACTEW's Declaration of Stage 3 Water Restrictions.
To find out more, or to book a briefing for your community group, call the Water Conservation Office during business hours on 6248 3131.
To speak to someone in a language other than English please telephone the Telephone Interpreter Service (TIS) 13 14 50.