Stage 3a FAQ

Melbourne has experienced below average rainfall since mid-2006 and it is important that we continue to save water. By introducing Stage 3a water restrictions, we are reducing the likelihood of the need to introduce the complete set of Stage 4 restrictions. By doing this, we are minimising the impact on industries affected by water restrictions, protecting jobs and allowing community activities like sport to continue. However, if our storage levels substantially deteriorate, we may need to implement tougher restrictions.

What are the rules under Stage 3a water restrictions?

Under Stage 3a, plants can only be watered in the morning on your specified watering days as required. There is no evening watering.

Can windows, roofs and building facades in new homes be cleaned with a hose?

No - only a bucket can be used unless there is an accident, fire, health or safety hazard in which case a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle may be used.

Can I use a bucket to clean my driveway and paving?

Permanent Water Saving Rules prohibit using water to clean driveways and pathways except in the case of accident, fire, or hazard to health reasons.

Who decides whether we’re on water restrictions in Melbourne?

The level of water restrictions is determined by the retail water corporations in consultation with the State Government, based on their Drought Response Plans. Any variation to these restrictions is decided by the Minister for Water.

Watering gardens

Under Stage 3a water restrictions, can I water my lawn?

No. There is a complete ban on watering lawns for residents and businesses and exemptions are no longer available for new turf and/or establishing gardens. However alternative sources (eg rainwater, tank water or grey water) can be used at any time.

Under Stage 3a water restrictions, can I water my garden?

Yes. You may use a manual dripper systems that you turn on or off by hand, hand-held hoses fitted with trigger nozzles, watering cans and buckets between 6am-8am to water your plants as required two days per week on your designated watering days.

Automatic dripper systems that turn themselves on and off can only be used between midnight-2am on your two designated days per week.
Even and no-numbered properties can water plants on Saturday and Tuesday within specified times.
Odd numbered properties can water plants on Sunday and Wednesday within specified times.
Watering is not permitted on Monday, Thursday and Friday.

Remember, most gardens do not need two full hours of watering. Please water according to your plants needs.

What if I don’t have a house number?

Where there is no house number the property is considered as an ‘even’ numbered house. Even & no-numbered properties can water plants on Saturday and Tuesday within specified times.

Why are you allowed to water your garden for two hours on specified watering days?

The Drought Response Plan states that watering may take place ‘only as required’ within specified watering hours. Everyone should abide by the Drought Response Plan and water only as required. The four hour window, over two days, has been granted to provide for maximum flexibility for people with time constraints. We do not encourage watering for the full four-hour duration.

Can I use a spray bottle that is not equipped with a trigger nozzle on the bottle to apply gardening products to gardens (i.e. fertilisers etc)?

Yes. Bottles of garden product equipped with and without trigger nozzles or on/off switches can be used. Conditions follow:

only to be used on garden beds
not to be used on lawns
only to be used during the authorised watering times for water restrictions.

Can I clean my lawn mower?

Any lawn mower (sit-on or push) can be cleaned in accordance with the requirements of a vehicle for the various stages of restrictions.

Is a high pressure system equivalent to a hand-held trigger hose during any stage of restrictions?

Yes. During stage 3a water restrictions, where a high pressure water-cleaning device is not specified within the restriction requirements, it is considered an equivalent to a hand-held trigger hose and may be used.

Dripper Systems

What is a dripper system?

A dripper system drips water on, or near to the root zone of plants. The system must use a fixed rate of flow which does not exceed nine litres per hour for every linear metre of watering system. You can contact your local water corporation about retrofitting a dripper system to your current watering system.

What areas of my garden can I water with a dripper system?

Most areas including: ornamental gardens; plants on slopes and flat ground; and vegetable gardens. Please note that lawns cannot be watered.

Why is it more effective to use a dripper system rather than a spray sprinkler system?

Dripper systems place water directly on the roots of plants. They minimise water loss that can be a result of windy conditions, evaporation and run-off. Dripper systems also reduce the risk of plant fungal and insect problems, as leaves are not watered.

Is it best to place a dripper system on top of or under soil?

Dripper systems can be laid either above or below the soil or in a layer of mulch. Placing dripper systems in these environments ensures that your plants can absorb the maximum amount of water.

Can I convert my current watering system to a dripper system?

Yes. Existing sprinkler heads can be removed and replaced with drip emitters. Existing holes can be plugged. For further information contact your local irrigation specialist, hardware store or Water Saver Garden Centre.

Note: Since 1 September 2005 any new automatic dripper system installed is required to have a rain or soil moisture sensor controller integrated into the system. We recommend that older systems be fitted with such sensors too – in fact it is compulsory for Councils to have these sensors on any automatic watering system.

How can I ensure that my system is only using 9 litres of water per hour per linear metre?

You can purchase a flow control device from all good gardening centres and hardware stores that will help you do this, or contact your local irrigation specialist.

What if my automatic dripper system doesn’t allow me to water on my set days?

There are a number of options available to customers in this situation:

Re-read the instructions of your system – our research shows that up to 40% of automatic watering system owners do not know how to program their system – otherwise contact the manufacturer for more information.
Your dripper system may handle ‘set’ days of the week (ie Saturday and Tuesday). If this is the case you will be able to program your system to manage a weeks watering in advance – requiring you to reset your program once weekly.
If your dripper system does not handle either of these options, perhaps it can be upgraded with additional hardware to make it perform as required under Stage 3a restriction rules. Speak to your product manufacturer or contact your local Water Saver Garden Centre.
Alternatively you can switch over your automatic dripper system to the manual setting and water according to the manual watering restrictions.

Note: Since 1 September 2005 any new automatic dripper systems installed is required to have a rain or soil moisture sensor controller integrated into the system. We recommend that older systems be fitted with such sensors too – in fact it is compulsory for Councils to have these sensors on any automatic watering system.

Where can I purchase a dripper system?

Contact your local irrigation specialist - you can find them by visiting www.irrigation.org.au or by accessing your yellow pages (under irrigation). You can also visit your local Water Saver Garden Centre.

Vehicle washing

Under Stage 3a water restrictions, can I wash my car?

Cars may not be washed at home with drinking water.

Under Stage 3a water restrictions, you may only wash your car by using a water efficient commercial or mobile car wash. Only commercial or mobile car washes which meet water efficient requirements can operate in metropolitan Melbourne.

You may use a bucket, filled directly from a tap to clean windows, mirrors and lights; and to spot-remove corrosive substances only.

Or you may wash your car at home if you are using an alternative source of water such as rainwater.

How do I know if a commercial car wash is an approved, water efficient car wash?

Only approved, water efficient commercial or mobile car washes may operate. Look for signage that says- 'working within water restrictions under an approved water conservation plan'.

A Water Conservation Plan can be prepared either in accordance with the Water Rating Scheme developed by the Smart Water Fund and the Australian Car Wash Association, or independently, and must be approved by the relevant water retailer.

Pools and spas

Under Stage 3a water restrictions can I fill my pool?

A new pool or spa of any size capacity cannot be filled. However a swimming pool or spa may be filled with alternative sources of water.

An existing pool or spa of less than 2,000 litres may be filled with a bucket filled directly from a tap (and not by means of a hose).

An existing pool or spa of greater than 2,000 litres must not be filled except in accordance with a water conservation plan. (Contact your local water business for more information.)

An existing pool or spa must not be topped up except by means of a watering can or bucket, filled directly from a tap (not by means of a hose).

Why do I have to use a bucket to top up my pool and not a hose?

We understand that this requires more effort, but encourage pool owners to avoid the need to top up regularly by:

Installing a pool cover to minimise evaporation
Managing chemical balance to minimise backwash and dumping requirements
Managing play activities in the pool to minimise splash

During Stage 3a – Why can my neighbour still fill his pool with a bucket yet I cannot water my lawn?

The filling of pools can continue (via buckets only) to ensure that the pool’s structure is not compromised. Without water, pools can break and raise out of the ground.

To avoid the need to fill the pool, owners can maintain proper chemical balance and minimise evaporative losses and also water loss from excessive splashing.

Sportsgrounds

What are sportsgrounds doing to save water?

Each local council rationalises their Sportsgrounds. This means that one in four is selected to be watered. Water used on the sportsgrounds needs to be reduced by 25%, in accordance with a water conservation plan, that has been submitted by each council to their water retailer. Many councils are now utilising recycled water installing rainwater tanks and water efficient appliances.

Why are one in four sportsgrounds still permitted to water?

It is important that we keep our community sport going while still cutting back the amount of water that we are using.

I represent a baseball/softball club – is any part of our diamond considered to be an exempt playing surface?

Yes. The following areas are considered exempt and can be watered in accordance with the rules for such surfaces:

The parts of the infield that are the batters’ base running areas (the running areas and the bases).
The pitching mound and immediate surrounds (but not the whole infield area between the mound and the lines between the bases).
This is regardless of whether these areas are en-tout-cas, turf / grass, or any other surface that requires water to maintain durability and safety.

The rest of the infield (the area between the pitching mound and lines between bases, and the area immediately outside the lines between 2nd, 3rd and 4th) and the outfield are not considered an exempt playing surface.

Industry & business

What is industry doing to save water?

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

Businesses using 10 megalitres of water or more per year must complete a water management action plan (WaterMAP program). There are more than 1,845 business customers in Victoria that fit into this group.

The top 200 non-residential water consumers in Melbourne have already developed water management plans under the Victorian Government’s Pathways to Sustainability program. Over 6 billion litres of water have been saved since 2001 through this program, representing a 13% efficiency gain. Water utilities will continue to work with the biggest industrial commercial and institutional water users.

Trigger levels

Why do we have trigger levels in the first place?

The trigger levels act as a guide for water businesses and the State Government when water storages are low.

Why do we have trigger levels if the State Government can decide to stay in a particular stage of restriction regardless of storage levels?

Strictly following trigger levels, without any discretionary judgement of circumstances, can result in a different stage of restrictions being introduced and removed in a very short space of time. This would cause unnecessary confusion throughout the community so other factors are taken into consideration before making the decision.

How are trigger points determined?

Melbourne's metropolitan water industry has developed a Drought Response Plan to monitor and respond to decreasing water storage levels. The plan is based on 90 years of historical data and includes analysis of rainfall and water consumption patterns.

A series of monthly trigger points have been set to indicate when the next stage of restrictions should be imposed. These trigger points are commonly expressed as a percentage of our total overall water storage capacity.

The Drought Response Plan is a statutory, public document and can be obtained from your local water corporation website.

Exemptions

Can I apply for an exemption?

Exemptions will only be provided for medical, health and safety reasons. Applications will be available from your local water corporation.

Does the exemption I received under previous levels of water restrictions still apply?

If you have been provided with an exemption under Permanent Water Saving Rules or previous levels of water restrictions for medical reasons your exemption may carry over to Stage 3a water restrictions.

All exemptions currently issued will be reviewed by your water corporation and you will be advised in writing as to whether your exemption can continue.

13WATER

How do I get more information on water restrictions or report a breach?

13WATER (13 92837) is alphanumeric phone number customers can call if they would like information on water restrictions, report a breach on water restrictions or report a water or sewage emergency or fault. The call is then diverted to the appropriate water business.

Where is the 13WATER hotline operational?

It is across metropolitan Melbourne and parts of regional Victoria

Penalties

Will there be penalties?

Yes – penalties apply for non-compliance with water restrictions.

Our first priority is to educate the community. However, we can serve a Penalty Infringement Notice (fine) or restrict supply for repeat breaches. Recent changes in legislation also allow us to issue a fine for serious breaches without providing advance notification.

We have found that in many cases residents and businesses that are issued with a breach notice are inadvertently doing the wrong thing, and generally ensure they are compliant in the future.

What is the process?

If a water retailer receives a complaint regarding water use that violates restrictions, they may send an educational letter advising the customer of the current stage of water restrictions and what is and what is not allowed. On other occasions they may visit the customer or site to investigate.

If authorised water officers identify a customer who is not complying with Stage 3a water restrictions, they may issue a formal warning or a fine in the mail or in person.

If they are observed breaking restrictions again they could have their water supply restricted or face prosecution. Water patrols will have the power to issue on-the-spot fines.

Penalties will apply as set out in the relevant water legislation.

Before a formal warning or fine is issued, authorised water officers will check to see if the customer has an exemption or is using rainwater or greywater (which can be used at any time during Stage 3a restrictions). We encourage people who notice a water user doing the wrong thing to call the water restriction hotline of their local water retailer (13 WATER 13 92837).

Stage 4 water restrictions

Stage 3a water restrictions, in conjunction with Target 155, will continue until at least November 2009. By staying in 3a we minimise the impact on industries affected by water restrictions, protect jobs and allow community activities such as sport to continue.

What are the key rules for Stage 4 water restrictions?

The key elements for Stage 4 water restrictions include:

Lawns and gardens may not be watered at any time.
A bucked filled from a tap can be used to clean a car’s windows, mirrors, and lights; and spot-remove corrosive substances. This also applies to commercial car washes.
A new pool or spa of any size capacity cannot be filled.

When will we reach the Stage 4 trigger level?

This is mainly dependent on rainfall and water consumption. Keep up the good work saving water. This helps to minimise the chance of going into Stage 4.

Using & Saving Water

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