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Stage 3a water restrictions to remain in place for Melbourne

The continuation of Stage 3A restrictions will maintain existing savings by households, industry and the wider community.

Maintaining Stage 3a restrictions, which were first introduced on 1 April 2007, will allow businesses including nurseries, car washes and landscape gardeners to approach this summer with greater security.

What Stage 3a means

Under Stage 3a water restrictions gardens can be watered on specified watering days only in the morning:

• A hand-held hose fitted with trigger nozzle, a watering can, bucket and manual dripper system can be used to water from 6am – 8am
• An automatic dripper system can be used to water from midnight - 2.00am

As with Stage 3, even-numbered houses can water on Saturday and Tuesday and odd-numbered houses can water on Sunday and Wednesday.

Households with at least one resident aged 70 years or over may water their gardens manually on specified watering days between 6am – 8am or 8am – 10am.

One in four sports grounds can still be watered and efficient commercial car washes can still be used. The Government will also introduce new compulsory water saving measures for commercial and industrial customers in the near future.

Gardens

A manual dripper system, hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, a watering can and a bucket can be used to water gardens as required on specified watering days between 6am - 8am*.

An automatic dripper systems can be used to water as required on specific watering days between midnight - 2am*.

* Even numbered properties can water on Saturday and Tuesday; odd numbered can water on Sunday and Wednesday. There is no watering on Monday, Thursday and Friday. There is no watering in the evening. If your property does not have a number, it is considered an even numbered property.

Vehicle Washing

An efficient commercial car wash that uses 70 litres of water or less per vehicle can be used. Look for signage that is to be displayed and informs you how many litres of water are being used for each car washed. A bucket filled from a tap can be used to clean windows, mirrors and lights; and spot-remove corrosive substances.

Sportsgrounds

Each local council rationalises their sportsgrounds. This means that one in four are selected to be watered. Water used on the sportsground needs to be reduced by 25%, in accordance with a water conservation plan, that has been submitted by each council. It is important that we keep our community sport going while still cutting back the amount of water that we are using.

Industry

Water restrictions have always applied equally to industry, however additional measures are being introduced by the Government and the water industry. These measures are designed to minimise impact on the economy whilst still making significant water savings.

New compulsory water saving measures for commercial and industrial customers are planned for the near future. Water retailers will continue to work with the biggest industrial, commercial and institutional water users to reduce their consumption.

Pools and Spas

New pools or spas of any capacity cannot be filled. Before filling an existing pool or spa consult your water authority.

Penalties and Enforcement

Stage 3a water restrictions must be followed and water patrols are out in force across Melbourne. If you are issued with a warning notice and still breach the restrictions, you may have your water supply restricted, receive a penalty infringement notice, or face prosecution.