Water Restrictions

Water is one of our most precious resources, essential for life.

Permanent Water Saving Rules are in place across the state every day of the year. These simple, common-sense rules help us all use drinking water wisely to reduce waste and ensure we’re doing our part to safeguard it for generations to come.

While most people do the right thing, it’s important to know that breaking the rules can lead to penalties. These rules apply only to drinking water — not greywater, rainwater, bore water, or recycled water. Below is a summary of the rules. For full details, please refer to our Permanent Water Savings Plan or FAQs below. Note that there are many more water-efficiency tips that go above and beyond these basic rules.

Hoses
Hoses must be leak-free with a trigger nozzle for all uses, including washing cars and gardens. Trigger nozzles ensure less water is wasted.

Garden watering
Home and commercial gardens can only be watered between 6pm and 10am, if using watering systems (see FAQs below for more information aboiut watering systems). This avoids the hottest part of the day when water wastage occurs due to evaporation. You can water gardens at any time using a hand-held hose (see above), watering can or bucket.

Hard surfaces
Water must not be used to clean hard surfaces such as concrete, paths and driveways. Exemptions apply when cleaning is needed to address a hazard, surface staining or during construction. See FAQs below for more information on when water can be used to clean hard surfaces. In these situations, a high-pressure water cleaning device must be used if one is available. Otherwise, a hand-held hose or a bucket can be used. Swapping to a broom will save a lot of water from being washed down the drain.

Green spaces
Public Green Spaces can only be watered:

• using watering systems (see FAQs for more information) between 6pm and 10am and only if these systems are fitted with rain or soil moisture sensors. This avoids the hottest part of the day when water wastage occurs due to evaporation, ensuring that we don’t water when it’s not needed.

OR

• in accordance with a Water Use Plan (see FAQs below for more information about Water Use Plans).

They can, however, be watered anytime using a hand-held hose, watering can or bucket.

Water features
All fountains and other water features must recirculate water.

FAQs

Are the Permanent Water Saving Rules a form of water restrictions? When will they end?
As the rules do restrict water use, they can be considered a basic form of restrictions, and – like restrictions – are enforceable under law. However, unlike staged (numbered) water restrictions, the water saving rules are permanent and don’t have an end date. The permanent water saving rules are in place to help conserve our water supply into the future.

What is a high-pressure water cleaning device?
A high-pressure water cleaner is an electric or petrol-powered device that connects to a hose, forcing water out at high pressure for more effective cleaning. The rate of delivery must be nine litres per minute or less.

What is a watering system?
A watering system is any automatic or manually operated system of sprinklers, drip hoses, weep hoses, etc. Even a simple garden sprinkler connected to a tap is considered a watering system. The most efficient and effective watering system is a sub-surface drip hose, connected to a timer to water overnight. This ensures plants get water near their roots, minimising water loss to evaporation.

Why can I only water at night or early in the morning?
It’s more efficient and effective to water your garden when the sun goes down. Lower evaporation means water is more likely to get to plant roots.

When can water be used to clean hard surfaces?
Water can only be used to clean hard surfaces (including, driveways, paths, concrete, tiles, timber decking) when:

• where cleaning is required as a result of an accident, fire, health hazard, safety hazard or other emergency, or
• if staining to the surface has developed and then only once a season, or
• in the course of construction or renovation.

In all instances, a high-pressure water cleaning device must be used, or if such a device is not available, a hand-held hose or a bucket.

Do the rules apply to bore, grey, rainwater or recycled water?
No. The Permanent Water Saving Rules apply only to drinking water supplied through our reticulation network.

Do Permanent Water Savings Rules apply during a fire emergency?
No.

Can I still wash my windows?
Yes. There are no restrictions on washing windows.

How should I wash my car?
Cars, boats and other vehicles can be washed at home at any time or any day, using:

• a high-pressure water cleaner, or
• a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, or
• a bucket or watering can.

The same rules apply to car dealerships.

Can I fill or top-up my pool or spa?
Yes. There are no restrictions on filling or topping up pools, spas or ponds under the Permanent Water Saving Rules.

What are the penalties for breaching the rules?
Breaching the Permanent Water Saving Rules can result in fines. For a first offence you can be fined over 10 penalty units and for a subsequent offence over 20 penalty units.

How do I report a breach of the rules?
Permanent water saving rules are enforced under the Water Act (1989). If you witness a breach of the rules, please contact your water corporation with details of the offence. An authorised water officer will investigate and report. Official warnings and on-the-spot fines can be issued for offences, and in severe cases, prosecution may be sought.

Are there exemptions to Permanent Water Saving Rules?
Yes, water can be used at any time for:
(a)          human health requirements
(b)          stock and animal health requirements
(c)          firefighting, or
(d)          the safety of – but not the cleaning of – vehicles or equipment.

In other special circumstances you can request an exemption from some permanent water saving rules or a stage of water restrictions. Some exemptions also require a Water Use Plan. Water Use Plans help to manage the use of water for specific purposes or for a specific stage of restrictions. They assist in maximising water-savings during water restrictions.

Who can apply for an exemption?
Applications for exemptions can be made from residential customers, on behalf of a business, company, industry or commercial or industrial organisation; or on behalf of a council, public or private school, a sportsground, a public garden or a tennis club.

How can I apply for an exemption?
Applications for an exemption must be made via the East Gippsland Water website, though an application form. We will then consider the application within a reasonable period and either grant or refuse the application.

What is a Water Use Plan?
A Water Use Plan outlines the measures that are already being used or that are planned on being used to assist in saving water. It controls the use of water for specific purposes or for a specific stage of restrictions. It helps to maximise water-savings during restrictions. A Water Use Plan must be approved by East Gippsland Water prior to consideration of an exemption to some of the Permanent Water Saving Rules.

Further details
For further details about Permanent Water Saving Rules, click on the links below:

• Summary of the key Permanent Water Saving Rules (PDF 105KB)
• Permanent Water Saving Rules Plan (PDF 289KB)

These are introduced when it is clear that the supply of water is depleting at a rate that cannot keep pace with demand, perhaps due to low stream flows and ongoing drought conditions.

There are four stages of water restrictions. For details, click on the links below:

• East Gippsland Water Summary of Water Restrictions DL brochure
• Stage 1 (Alert)  (PDF 288KB)
• Stage 2 (Save)  (PDF 302KB)
• Stage 3 (Just Enough) (PDF 304KB)
• Stage 4 (Critical) (PDF 305KB)
• Model Water Restriction By-law

Water restrictions do not apply to tank, bore or grey water.

East Gippsland Water can impose financial penalties and take legal action against anyone found breaching any of the Permanent Water Saving Rules or restrictions.

Penalties are linked to the value of a Penalty Unit. This is indexed on 1 July each year. From 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 the value of a Penalty Unit is $203.51.

For more information call us on 1800 671 841.