Flexible Watering Under Stage 2 Restrictions

1 September 2010

Households give flexibility under Stage 2 Water Restrictions...

City West Water customers will have greater flexibility with water use when water restrictions are eased to Stage 2 from 1 September 2010.

Under Stage 2 restrictions, householders will be given more flexibility with watering gardens and will be permitted to wash vehicles with a bucket or high pressure cleaning device.

City West Water Managing Director, Anne Barker, said that while Stage 2 restrictions will make watering gardens easier, customers are still encouraged to keep to Target 155.

“The move to Stage 2 restrictions is great news for householders and great news for gardeners who’ll have more flexibility to water their gardens, as well as car owners who’ll now be able to wash their cars at home,” Ms Barker said.

“The move to Stage 2 comes after a combination of good autumn and winter rainfall, and the extra inflow from the Sugarloaf Pipeline, pushing up our dam levels to more than 40% capacity, as well as the great efforts of householders who continue their water saving ways.

“Householders across Melbourne have continued to be vigilant with their water use all year, using on average 17 litres per person per day less than two years ago, which equates to 34 billion litres of water – more than one month’s supply for the metropolitan area.”

Under Stage 2 restrictions, householders will be able to:
• use a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, watering can or bucket to water gardens at any time (lawns still cannot be watered)
• wash cars at home with either a bucket or a high pressure cleaning device
• water gardens with a manual watering system between 6-8am and 8-10pm on alternate days (if you are aged over 70 you can water between 8-10am in the morning)
• water gardens with an automatic watering system between midnight and 4am on alternate days
• fill spas and smaller pools, such as children’s inflatable play pools.

The move to Stage 2 restrictions is in line with the majority of Victorian towns that are already enjoying the benefits of eased restrictions.

“Stage 2 means that households can water gardens at any time with a trigger nozzle as well as the return of home car washing, with either a bucket or high pressure cleaning device,” Ms Barker said.

“In a real win for Melbourne’s veggie gardeners, plants can now be watered via a watering can, bucket or trigger nozzle as needed – in addition to the morning and night watering options,” Ms Barker said.

While excited to see greater flexibility for householders, Ms Barker urged everyone to continue their water saving efforts.

“While we are providing more flexibility for Melburnians we want people to continue to use water wisely, so are encouraging everyone to keep to Target 155.”

“We all know how to save water – keep showers short, water gardens outside the heat of the day, and reuse as much water as you can.”

Under Stage 2 water restrictions

What’s changed?         From 1 September 2010

Watering times	Automatic watering systems can be used between midnight and 4am on your nominated watering day Manual watering between 6-8am and 8-10pm on alternate days; (If you are aged over 70 you can water between 8-10am in the morning).
Hand watering	Water extra thirsty plants or vegetables as needed with a watering can, bucket or trigger nozzle.
Car washing	Wash your car at home using a bucket or high pressure cleaning device.
Pools and spas	Top-up existing pools or spas with a trigger nozzle hose Fill baby-sized pools or spas (500 litres or less) via a trigger nozzle Fill play pools and spas (2,000 litres or less).
Pools and spas – 2,000 litres or more	Pools and spas of more than 2,000 litres can only be filled with drinking water when done so under a Water Conservation Plan – contact your water retailer.

What stays the same?

Your watering days	Even numbered houses may water on even dates e.g. 2nd, 4th, 6th, etc. Odd numbered properties may water on odd dates e.g. 1st, 3rd, 5th, etc. Everyone may water on the 31st.
Lawns	Lawns cannot be watered at any time with drinking water For an exemption to establish warm season grass contact your water retailer.
Alternate times for 70+	Households with someone aged 70 years or over still have the ability to water gardens at the alternate time of 8-10 am.
Personal target	Target 155 remains and will allow customers to keep track of their water use of water, and balance their indoor and outdoor water consumption.
Car washing	You can continue to use an efficient commercial car wash You cannot use a conventional hose/trigger nozzle to wash your car.