Water restrictions in Australia
Water restrictions have been enacted in many cities and regions in Australia, which is the Earth's driest inhabited continent, in response to chronic water shortages resulting from the widespread drought. Depending upon the location, these can include restrictions on watering lawns, using sprinkler systems, washing vehicles, hosing pavement, refilling swimming pools, etc. Overpopulation, evidence of drying climates, coupled with corresponding reductions in the supply of drinking water has led various state governments to consider alternative water sources to supplement existing sources, and to implement "water inspectors" who can issue penalties to those who waste water. Many states describe the different levels of water restrictions in terms of "stages": starting at Stage 1, for the least restrictive, going up as far as Stage 8. The highest level reached in the current drought has been stage 7 for Kingaroy. There are different definitions given to each "stage" in different States.
Water restrictions by state or territory
Australian Capital Territory
There are presently four stages of temporary water restrictions which can be imposed by ACTEW Corporation:Canberra was subject to Stage 1 restrictions from 1 November 2005, which were increased to Stage 2 after a year on 1 November 2006. The continuing drought led to a further increase to Stage 3 from 16 December 2006; the restrictions were maintained at Stage 3 throughout 2007 and 2008. From 1 November 2010 Canberra moved to Permanent Water Saving Rules due to heavy rain bringing water storages close to capacity.
New South Wales
The different classification levels of water restrictions in New South Wales vary widely, and are set by the different authorities responsible for water throughout the state.Sydney
The following Levels have been used by Sydney Water to describe the different stages of water restrictions it has imposed. Level 3 Water Restriction information is current as of 2009. Level 1 and level 2 Water Restriction information is current as of November 2019.| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |
| Sprinklers and irrigation: |
| Before 10am and after 4pm every day:
| – No sprinklers at any time |
| Watering gardens and lawns: | 2 times weekly, before 10 am or after 4 pm | ||
| Vehicles, Boats, and Buildings: |
| Vehicles Boats
Buildings Residents and businesses:
| No current information |
| Swimming pools: | No current information | ||
| Hard surfaces: | No hosing hard surfaces | ||
| Exemptions |
| No current information |
Level 1 Restrictions:
In late May 2019, it was announced that Sydney Water will be reinstating Level 1 water restrictions throughout the greater Sydney area. These restrictions began on 1 June 2019, as a result of an extremely dry year. As of 29 May 2019, Greater Sydney water supply levels are 53.4%, which is significantly lower than May 2018, in which supply levels were 73% in major catchments.
Level 2 Restrictions:
On November 21, 2019, the NSW government announced Level 2 water restrictions. These restrictions commenced on December 10, 2019, replacing the level 1 water restrictions. Level 2 restrictions have been brought in earlier than the Metropolitan Water Plan recommends, with dam levels currently at 46.1%. Premier Gladys Berejiklian, and Minister for Water, Property and Housing, Melinda Pavey announced the restrictions early as a precautionary measure, and to stave off the implementation of Level 3 restrictions later on.
Level 3 Restrictions:
Upon the commencement of the Level 2 water restrictions in December 2019, Minister for Water, Property and Housing, Melinda Pavey announced that Level 3 water restrictions should be expected early in the year of 2020.
Sydney Water Restrictions
Falling dam levels prompted Sydney Water to impose Level 1 water restrictions on the Sydney area from 1 October 2003.
When these restrictions failed to stem the reduction in the city's water supplies as a result of continuing drought, and with dam levels dropping below 50 per cent, Level 2 water restrictions were introduced from 1 June 2004. Further reductions in dam levels to below 40 per cent of capacity led to an increase to Level 3 water restrictions from 1 June 2005. Level 3 water restrictions were in place as of February 2008. Since June 2009, though, Sydney Water replaced water restrictions with Water Wise Rules. The Rules include:
- All hoses must now have a trigger nozzle.
- Hand held hoses, sprinklers and watering systems may be used only before 10 am and after 4 pm on any day – to avoid the heat of the day.
- No hosing of hard surfaces such as paths and driveways. Washing vehicles is allowed.
- Fire hoses may be used for fire fighting activities only.
Sydney Water has imposed fines of $220 for violations of the rules for individuals, $550 for businesses, and $2,200 for water theft. Rules are enforced by Sydney Water staff through random checks.
As different towns in regional New South Wales take their drinking water from different sources, different levels of water restrictions apply. The levels or stages which apply in certain towns are as follows:
- Albury – no restrictions
- Armidale – Level 5 from October 2019
- Bathurst – Level 3 from 26 November 2019
- Bonalbo, New South Wales Kyogle - Level 4 from 13 January 2020= Regional NSW =
- Cobar – stage 5
- Dubbo – From Saturday 1 June 2019 Level 2 Water Restrictions are in place.
- Gosford – stage 4 from 1 October 2006
- Goulburn had Stage 5 water restrictions imposed from 1 October 2004, and went on to win a National Water Conservation Award for Excellence due to the water which had been conserved. From 5 July 2007, Goulburn relaxed its water restrictions to Level 3.
- Griffith – stage 2 introduced on 27 November 2007
- Leeton – level 3 introduced on 9 October 2007 but lowered to level 2 on 1 November 2008
- Newcastle-Lower Hunter – level 1 from 16 September 2019
- Orange – level 5 from 6 October 2019
- Port Macquarie – stage 2 from September 2019
- Taree – Level 3 from 11 November 2019
- Wagga Wagga – Permanent Water Conservation Measure
Northern Territory
Queensland
Some of the details of the different stages of water restrictions which apply in Queensland for the residential sector are as follows:Although some regions of Queensland have had traditionally high rainfalls, some regions of Queensland have been subject to the toughest water restrictions in place in Australia. The highest level of water restrictions reached the drought was stage 7 for Kingaroy. Toowoomba, Brisbane and South East Queensland reached Level 6 restrictions.
On 13 May 2005, 13 local councils in southeast Queensland, including those in Brisbane, agreed to impose Stage 1 water restrictions, due to drying dams.
These restrictions were increased to Stage 2 from 3 October 2005, which at the time were described as the "toughest water restrictions in southeast Queensland's history", except the Gold Coast which had been on Stage 5 restrictions since 2004.
Stage 3 water restrictions were imposed on the region from 13 June 2006 amid projections that water storage levels would drop to 5% within 26 months.
Water restrictions continued to increase, to Stage 4 from 1 November 2006, stage 5 from 10 April 2007, and up to Stage 6 from 23 November 2007.
The Queensland Water Commission has relaxed water restrictions, with the introduction of High Level Water restrictions as of 31 July 2008.
Other towns and regions of Queensland are subject to different levels of water restrictions, as set out below:
- Cairns – Level 1 restrictions from October 2002 till about January 2004.
- Gold Coast – stage 6 from 23 November 2007, stage 5 from 10 April 2007, stage 4 from 1 November 2006. The Hinze Dam, which is the Gold Coast's main water supply reached 100% in January 2008 and the coast now has no water restrictions.
- Kingaroy – Stage 7 from 1 October 2007
- Toowoomba – stage 6 from 23 November 2007, stage 5 from 26 September 2006. In 2006, the town council proposed the use of recycled wastewater to supplement town water from dams, however the scheme was rejected by the town's population and the town has since resorted to drilling artesian and sub-artesian bores as an alternative source of drinking water.
- Townsville – stage 2 from 15 November 2006, stage 1 from 12 February 2007. As of 2020 only minor conservation measures are in place and a major pipeline from the Haughton River is well under construction providing long term water security to the city, council have stated water restrictions will be abolished once implemented.
South Australia
The different levels of residential water restrictions which have been applied to different regions of South Australia by SA Water are as follows:Different water restrictions levels apply to different parts of the state, depending upon the source of drinking water used in that region. SA Water have produced a map showing the current areas of water restrictions.
Areas using Murray River water
and much of south-eastern South Australia takes its drinking water from the Murray River. Permanent water conservation measures were put into place in this region in 2003,and as a result of the most severe drought to hit the region since the 1940s, Level 2 water restrictions were imposed from 22 October 2006 on those areas which use water from the Murray River.
Even lower inflows to the Murray River over the course of 2006 led to the even tougher Level 3 water restrictions being imposed on the region from 1 January 2007,
which remain in place.
Other areas
The Eyre Peninsula draws most of its drinking water from underground basins,which progressively became depleted through drought and high consumption, prompting the State Government to introduce water restrictions on the entire region from 6 December 2002, apart from Whyalla. The water restrictions for the peninsula remain in force as of 2008.
Conversely, the areas in the south east of the State, south of the town of Keith, are subject to the permanent water conservation measures.
Other areas in the state are not subject to water restrictions. These areas include Murray Mallee, areas north of Port Augusta, Kangaroo Island, Cockburn, Hawker, Melrose, Ororoo, Parachilna, Quorn, Warooka, Wilmington, Terowie, Yunta, Olary and Manna Hill.
The different levels of residential water restrictions which have been applied to different regions of South Australia by SA Water are as follows:
Permanent Water Conservation Measures Eyre Peninsula Level 2 Level 3
Reticulation sprinklers: 5pm–10am 6pm–8am 8pm–8am, 3 days/week Prohibited
Hand-held hose watering and drippers: Any time 1 day/week with trigger nozzle, 6–9am or 5–
Tasmania
Usually, there are no water restrictions for domestic consumption.Periodically, however, restrictions will be placed on how water can be used in domestic, commercial or rural areas. Examples of such restrictions are:
- watering with a hose is permitted but not using a fixed sprinkler system,
- being able to use sprinkler systems only during certain hours,
- the initial wetting and final rinsing of a car may be done with the hose but washing must be done using a bucket,
- washing a car is permitted using a bucket of water but not using the hose,
- watering of sports grounds allowed only during certain hours,
- watering stock is acceptable but not irrigating.
Victoria
The different stages of water restrictions which apply in different areas of Victoria are based upon the Victorian Uniform Drought Water Restriction Guidelines,however they have been modified by the inclusion of a "Stage 3a", to reduce the likelihood of needing to impose Stage 4 restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne.
The status of water restrictions in different regions of Victoria is as set out below:
- Bairnsdale – now off water restrictions and on permanent water saving rules as of 24 August 2007
- Ballarat – stage 3 from 1 January 2010, stage 1 from 1 August 2010.
- Bendigo area – stage 3 from 1 January 2009
- Broadford – stage 4 from 1 February 2007
- Geelong – stage 3 from March 2010, stage 1 from 3 October 2010
- Central Gippsland – All Towns on Permanent Water Saving Rules
- Coongulla & Glenmaggie – stage 4 from 24 February 2007
- Horsham – Stage 1 from 14 October 2009
- Mansfield area – stage 4 for Mansfield from 16 December 2006; other areas nearby on stage 1 and 2
- Melbourne – stage 1 from 28 August 2006, stage 2 from 1 November 2006, stage 3 from 1 January 2007, Stage 3a from 1 April 2007, Stage 3 from 2 April 2010, stage 2 from 1 September 2010. As of 1 December 2012, Melbourne was taken off water restriction stages, but new permanent water restrictions were implemented.
- Mildura – now off water restrictions and on permanent water saving rules as of 3 October 2010
- Omeo – stage 2 from 11 December 2006
- North east region – Bright reverted to stage 2 and Springhurst reverted to stage 1 on 10 September 2007. Most of the Murray towns went to Stage 4 on 1 July 2007, and on 11 July 2007 Devenish, St James and Tungamah went to stage 3. As of 2010, most towns/cities in the North East have moved to Permanent Water Saving Rules thanks to flooding rain over winter and spring.
Western Australia
The different stages of water restrictions which can currently be applied in Western Australia are as follows:, one of Perth's major dams, at 34.4% of capacity
Water restrictions have been employed in various Western Australian towns when poor rainfall has led to water shortages. For instance, in the summer of 1977–1978, Perth was subject to a total sprinkler ban.
Newman and Nullagine experienced water restrictions from 1991 and 1992 onwards as the result of drought.
Similarly, the resort towns of Yallingup and Dunsborough experienced water restrictions in 1997 during a heatwave,
and Kalgoorlie-Boulder had temporary water restrictions imposed during 1998 due to shortages in its reservoirs.
A Stage 1 ban on using reticulation sprinklers between 9.00 am and 6.00 pm was imposed on Perth residents in 1996,
and remains in place to this day. This was the first water restriction imposed on the state's most populous city since the total sprinkler ban in 1978. From September 2001, users of the Integrated Water Supply Scheme were subject to Stage 4 restrictions, only permitted to use reticulation sprinklers two days per week, according to a roster.
The town of Northampton in the Mid-West encountered a water shortage in 2006 where its underground aquifer could not meet demand. Stage 5 watering restrictions were imposed,
and the Water Corporation resorted to carting tankers of water to the town to maintain the supply.
Stage 4 water restrictions were imposed in the South-West towns of Bridgetown, Balingup, Boyup Brook, Hester, Kirup, Greenbushes and Mullalyup from 13 October 2006.
On 1 October 2007, water restrictions were expanded to cover the entire state, including those towns serviced by utilities other than the Water Corporation. Under the new system, all areas of the state in the region south of Kalbarri and Kalgoorlie which use scheme water are subject to Stage 4 restrictions.
Areas north of the dividing line are subject to Stage 2 restrictions.
Furthermore, whereas the water restrictions had previously only restricted the use of mains water to water gardens and lawns by sprinkler, under the new water restrictions unlicensed bore operators in Perth and its surrounds are restricted to watering their gardens three times per week.
This was to slow the depletion of underground aquifers from which Perth sources much of its drinking water.
Around November 2013 the water restrictions were removed from the Water Agencies Bylaws 2010 and added to the Water Services Regulations 2013
Efforts are being made to secure alternative water sources to ease water shortages in the Integrated Water Supply Scheme. Integral to the Government's strategy is the construction of desalination plants to service Perth. One has already been constructed in Kwinana, which supplies 17% of the city's water consumption and is the largest desalination plant in both the Southern and Eastern hemispheres. A second desalination plant near Binningup was completed in 2011. A trial has also been announced to treat wastewater and pump it into underground aquifers to undergo natural filtration as it returns to the dwindling groundwater supply.
Water storage levels
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology collates national statistics for water storage levels and makes them available on their water storage web tool and via a water storage iPhone app.Sources: Water Services Association of Australia, Melbourne Water
| Location | Dec 2005 | Sep 2006 | Oct 2006 | Nov 2006 | Dec 2006 | Jan 2007 | Feb 2007 | Mar 2007 | Apr 2007 | May 2007 | Jun 2007 | Jul 2007 | Aug 2007 | Sep 2007 | Oct 2007 | Nov 2007 | Dec 2007 | Jan 2008 | Feb 2008 | Mar 2008 |
| Adelaide | 89 | 57.5 | 58 | 57 | 55.9 | 56.5 | 55 | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||
| Brisbane | 35 | 26.9 | 25.9 | 24.87 | 24.3 | 22.7 | 21.7 | 15.5 | 20.5 | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| Canberra | 67 | 47.8 | 45.9 | 42.56 | 40.4 | 36.7 | 34.7 | 31.4 | 41.7 | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| Darwin | 56 | 85 | 77 | 79 | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||
| Hobart | 81 | 81 | 87 | 85 | 79 | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||
| Melbourne | 58.1 | 46 | 44.1 | 46 | 39.8 | 38.7 | 36.5 | 32.1 | 33.1 | 35.6 | 39.1 | 43.6 | 42.7 | 42.3 | 40.1 | 37.1 | - | - | - | - |
| Perth | 39 | 32.3 | 31.8 | 29.53 | 28.7 | 26 | 23.6 | - | ||||||||||||
| Sydney | 40.5 | 42.6 | 40.6 | 38.6 | 37.1 | 34.8 | 37.1 | 38.5 | 38.2 | 37.3 | 53.1 | 57.5 | 58.8 | 58.9 | 57.3 | 58.8 | 60.9 | 61.0 | 66.4 | 66.1 |