Commercial or Business

*General Exemption: means exemptions issued to the whole community without the need to apply.

**Exemption applications that will be considered are not limited to the examples provided.

Usage Category or Business

Example of Request

Exemption Guidelines

Commercial Nurseries and Gardens

What is allowed use?

To hand water and/or use sprinklers and other irrigation systems outside of allowed hours

Nurseries may be granted an exemption to use potable water outside of allowed hours.

Exemption applications should be submitted in writing and outline the following:

  • Proposed method of watering (sprinklers, misters, hand held hose etc.)
  • Proposed watering schedule (times and duration); and
  • Demonstrated water savings (water consumption data should be supplied where practicable).

Landscape contractors

To water newly planted/seeded plants outside of allowed hours

General Exemption*

No variations to this general exemption will be permitted.

General exemptions can be revoked by ACTEW at any time.

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.

Paved areas

What is allowed use?

To regularly clean food, animal waste or other substances from a paved area for health and safety purposes.

OR

To clean paved areas for aesthetic purposes

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):

  1. spillage of harmful chemicals;
  2. spillage of substances that present a possible slip or other health or safety concern; and
  3. overflow of sewerage or excrement on paved areas.

Exemptions will not generally be granted for cleaning for aesthetic purposes. Aesthetic purposes include:

  1. cob webs;
  2. dust; or
  3. bird droppings,

where these things do not represent a health hazard.

Exemptions must be applied for:

  1. cleaning of offensive graffiti on paved areas, or cleaning of graffiti where its continued presence is likely to damage the structure on which it has been applied; and
  2. where cleaning is necessary to abide by the provision of a tenancy agreement or lease which requires the external paved areas of premises to be cleaned at the expiry or termination of the tenancy or lease.

Conditions applicable to exemptions:  As a condition of any exemption granted the person doing the cleaning must use a high-pressure low-volume cleaner or a bucket and mop or squeegee.

To whom may an exemption be granted?
Contracted cleaners. Exemptions that allow cleaning by contractors may be expressed to apply to all customers/ a specified class of customers/ an individual customer of the contractor. †

† NB. The occupier of premises is responsible for all water usage on that property. If potable water drawn from ACTEW’s water supply is used on the premises in contravention of a water restriction or an exemption it is the occupier who is liable.

Construction and related activities (which includes roof restoration and repair or replacement of tiling as well as surface preparation for painting) - are subject to different conditions to those applicable to the washing of paved areas under the water restrictions scheme

General exemption applies from 15 November 2008 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.

Pool servicing/ maintenance contractors

To top up, empty or re-fill a pool on behalf of a client

Businesses contracted to undertake work requiring the use of potable water can apply for an exemption to fill or top up pools outside of allowed hours provided that:

  • In the case of emptying and re-filling a pool, an exemption has been issued to the occupier permitting the pool to be emptied and then re-filled.
  • In the case of topping up a pool, the pool has been registered with the Water Conservation Office by the owner.
  • Filling or topping up is by means of an attended hose only.

The occupier of a premises is responsible for all water usage on that property. If water is used on the premises in contravention of a water restriction it is the occupier who is liable.

Vehicles
What is allowed use?

 

General exemption applies from 15 November 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:

  1. they are washed on a lawn or other porous surface wherever practicable; and
  2. 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.

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).

No variations to these general exemptions will be permitted.

General exemptions can be revoked by ACTEW at any time.

To regularly wash fleet vehicles for example buses and other transport vehicles to fulfil health and safety requirements.

General exemption applies from 15 November 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:

  1. they are washed on a lawn or other porous surface wherever practicable; and
  2. 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.

Exemptions will be considered. Applications should outline specific contractual health and safety requirements, current water use practices and proposed water savings to be made.

To wash vehicles kept on commercial premises such as car dealerships, smash repairers and motor mechanics.

General exemption applies from 15 November 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:

  1. they are washed on a lawn or other porous surface wherever practicable; and
  2. 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.

Motor Trades Association (MTA) members that have signed the MTA-ACT-ACTEW agreement may wash vehicles with potable water subject to conditions. Please contact the Motor Trade Association on 6241 6266 for more information.

Non-MTA members and MTA members who have not signed the MTA-ACT-ACTEW agreement must apply directly to ACTEW for an exemption to use potable water for vehicle washing.

Windows and buildings

What is allowed use?

Cleaning of residential premises by a contractor.

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):

  1. spillage of harmful chemicals;
  2. spillage of substances that present a possible slip or other health or safety concern; and
  3. overflow of sewerage or excrement on buildings or windows.

Exemptions will not generally be granted for cleaning for aesthetic purposes. Aesthetic purposes include:

  1. cob webs;
  2. dust; or
  3. bird droppings,

where these things do not represent a health hazard.

Exemptions must be applied for:

  1. cleaning of offensive graffiti on buildings or windows, or cleaning of graffiti where its continued presence is likely to damage the structure on which it has been applied;
  2. where external surfaces, if not cleaned, may later suffer structural problems or other damage; and
  3. where cleaning is necessary to abide by the provision of a tenancy agreement or lease which requires the external surfaces of buildings or windows of premises to be cleaned at the expiry or termination of the tenancy or lease.

Conditions applicable to exemptions:  As a condition of any exemption granted the person doing the cleaning must use a high-pressure low-volume cleaner or a bucket and mop or squeegee.

To whom may an exemption be granted?
Contracted cleaners. Exemptions that allow cleaning by contractors may be expressed to apply to all customers/ a specified class of customers/ an individual customer of the contractor. †

† NB. The occupier of premises is responsible for all water usage on that property. If potable water drawn from ACTEW’s water supply is used on the premises in contravention of a water restriction or an exemption it is the occupier who is liable.

Construction and related activities (which includes roof restoration and repair or replacement of tiling as well as surface preparation for painting) - are subject to different conditions to those applicable to the washing of buildings and windows under the water restrictions scheme.

 

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.

Cleaning of commercial premises by a contractor.

Cleaning businesses contracted to undertake work at a commercial premises that requires the use of potable water must apply for an exemption for the duration of Stage 3 Water Restrictions.

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.

To clean the external surface of a commercial building.

Proprietors/managers of buildings with three or more stories must seek an exemption to allow the use of potable water to clean windows and external surfaces (regardless of whether the cleaner contracted to do the work has been granted an exemption).

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.

Construction and related activities
What is allowed use?

 

Recycled water is available at the Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre (LMWQCC) at Holt, free of charge. Access to the non-potable water can be arranged on a case-by-case basis with ACTEW by calling 6248 3079.

Procedure for accessing recycled water