Community celebrates as water overflows Suma Park dam wall
In a long-awaited sign of recovery from the drought, water is now flowing over the wall of Orange’s major water storage dam at Suma Park. (more…)
Restrictions Explained
Permanent Water Saving Standards ~ CURRENT
80% of total storage capacity
LAWNS AND RESIDENTIAL GARDENS
- Watering systems, non fixed sprinklers, hand held hoses, microsprays, drip systems, soaker hoses permitted only
- Between 6.00am – 9.00am, 6.00pm – 9.00pm
- Under the Odds and Evens system, if the street number of your property is odd(eg: 173 Smith Street), you can water on odd dates of the month, alternatively, if the street number of your property is even (eg: 22 Stuart Street), you can water on even dates
IRRIGATION OF NEW TURF
- Permitted for one week after laying after which permanent water savings standards on watering lawns applies
WATER FEATURES
- Filling garden water features and topping up – permitted
FIRST FILL AND TOPPING UP OF SWIMMING POOLS/SPAS
- Only between hours of 7.00am – 9.00am and 6.00pm – 8.00pm every day
WASHING DOWN WALLS OR PAVED SURFACES
- An annual opportunity when permitted by Council
CHILDREN’S POOLS
- Permitted
WASHING CARS AT HOME
- Can wash with bucket and can rinse with a trigger hose
LEVEL 2
60% of total storage capacity
LAWNS AND RESIDENTIAL GARDENS
- Watering systems, non fixed sprinklers, hand held hoses, microsprays, drip systems, soaker hoses permitted only.
- Between 7.00am – 10.00am, 4.00pm – 7.00pm. For more about changes to watering times , see this article.
- Under the Odds and Evens system, if the street number of your property is odd (eg: 173 Smith Street), you can water on odd dates of the month, alternatively, if the street number of your property is even (eg: 22 Stuart Street), you can water on even dates.
IRRIGATION OF NEW TURF
- Permitted for one week after laying after which level 2 restriction on watering lawns applies
WATER FEATURES
- Filling garden water features and topping up – permitted.
FIRST FILL AND TOPPING UP OF SWIMMING POOLS/SPAS
- Only between hours of 7.00am – 9.00am and 6.00pm – 8.00pm every day.
WASHING DOWN WALLS, PAVED SURFACES OR ANY HARD SURFACES
- Not permitted
CHILDREN’S POOLS
- Permitted
WASHING CARS AT HOME
- Can wash with bucket and can rinse with a trigger hose, 9.00am – 12.00 noon any day
LEVEL 3
50% of total storage capacity
LAWNS
- No sprinklers.
- Only micro-sprays, drip systems, soaker hoses and hand-held hoses.
- Limited daily hours, using odds & evens system.
RESIDENTIAL GARDENS
- No sprinklers.
- Only micro-sprays, drip systems, soaker hoses and hand-held hoses.
- Limited daily hours, using odds & evens system for a maximum of three hours, every other day, morning and night:7am – 10am4pm – 7pm
- How the odds & evens system works:If your house’s street number is an even number then you can water on the even days of the month, the 2nd, 4th, 6th etc. If your house in an odd number, then you can water on the odd days of the month, the 1st, 3rd, 5th etc.
WATER FEATURES
- Water features can be topped and filled
NEW TURF
- Watering permitted for one week, then same restrictions as for other lawn watering.
SWIMMING POOLS
- Pool covers must be used. Topping up only between 7am-9am and 6pm-8pm any day.
POP-UP CHILDREN’S POOLS
- May be used.
WASHING CARS AT HOME
- Washing cars with bucket only on lawn from 9am to 12 noon any day.
BATHS AND SHOWERS
- No restriction.
WASHING MACHINES
- Suggested full loads only.
EVAPORATIVE COOLERS
- Yes.
LEVEL 4
40% of total storage capacity
LAWNS
- No watering.
RESIDENTIAL GARDENS
- No sprinklers.
- Only micro-sprays, drip systems, soaker hoses. Limited daily hours, two days a week only (Wednesdays & Sundays 7am to 9am and 4pm-6pm).
- One hand-held hose with a trigger-nozzle for up to half an hour on those two days.
WATER FEATURES
- Water features can be topped up.
NEW TURF
- No.
SWIMMING POOLS
- Pool covers must be used. Topping up only between 7am-9am and 6pm-8pm any day.
POP-UP CHILDREN’S POOLS
- May be used.
WASHING CARS AT HOME
- Washing cars with bucket only on lawn from 9am to 12 noon any day.
BATHS AND SHOWERS
- Suggested limit of 5 minute shower. One bath per day.
WASHING MACHINES
- Full loads only.
EVAPORATIVE COOLERS
- Only to be used 7am to midnight daily.
LEVEL 5
30% of total storage capacity
LAWNS
- No watering.
RESIDENTIAL GARDENS
- No sprinklers, micro-sprays or soaker hoses.
- Buckets, watering cans and drip systems permitted during one-hour weekly watering period. One-hour watering period can only happen on Sundays. 7 am to 9 am Sunday mornings or 4 pm to 6 pm Sunday evenings
- One hand-held hose with a trigger-nozzle for up to half an hour during that period.
WATER FEATURES
- No.
HARD SURFACES
- No washing of hard surfaces.
NEW TURF
- No.
SWIMMING POOLS
- No topping up.
POP-UP CHILDREN’S POOLS
- No.
WASHING CARS AT HOME
- No.
BATHS AND SHOWERS
- Suggested limit of 3 minute shower. One shallow bath per day.
WASHING MACHINES
- Full loads only.
EVAPORATIVE COOLERS
- Only to be used 7am to midnight daily.
Please note that restrictions also apply to those with access to a purple tap.
KEY ELEMENTS OF LEVEL 3 (HIGH) WATER RESTRICTIONS
- Watering gardens and lawns is permitted using micro-sprays and soakers during three hour periods every other day using the odds and evens system (3 hours morning and 3 hours evening, every other day)
- During those two periods, hand-held hoses with a trigger-nozzle limited to one hour
- Watering systems and non fixed sprinklers not permitted
- Watering periods are 0700-1000 and 1800-2100
- Council permission required for first fill of swimming pool, topping-up of swimming pools permitted within limited watering period hours
- Car washing at home permitted using bucket pressure hose
- Irrigation of new turf permitted for one week, then Level 3 water restrictions apply
KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LEVEL 3 AND LEVEL 4
- No watering lawns. Gardens only to be watered.
- Using micro-sprays and soakers, moving from odds and evens watering days (2 hours morning and 2 hours evening, every other day) to 2 hours a day (evening only) on two days a week (Wed and Sun)
- During those two periods, hand-held hoses with a trigger-nozzle limited to half an hour
- Suggested time-limits on showers
- No new turf installed
KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LEVEL 4 AND LEVEL 5
- No sprinklers, micro-sprays, or soaker hoses.
- Buckets, watering cans, drip system or a hand-held hose with a trigger nozzle for 30 minutes during limited hours. One hour a day on one day a week (Sunday only).
- No topping up swimming pools
- No washing cars at home
Water Usage
HOW MUCH WATER ARE WE USING?
This table shows the average daily water consumption of residential households (expressed in litres per person per day) in the Orange City Council area. The target water usage under Level 2 restrictions is 220 litres per person per day.
DAILY RESIDENTIAL WATER CONSUMPTION (LITRES PER PERSON PER DAY)
Date Consumption
22 July 2021 128
15 July 2021 117
8 July 2021 134
1 July 2021 131
24 June 2021 133
18 June 2021 156
11 June 2021 173
3 June 2021 154
Business Owners
WATER RESTRICTIONS AND WATER SAVINGS ACTION PLAN FOR BUSINESSES
Orange City Council seeks the cooperation of business operators with efforts to reduce our overall consumption of water. As a business you can use the Water Savings Action Plan Flow Chart to see if you can comply with the water restrictions, and/or what next steps to take if you can’t comply. To work your way through the flow chart, you will need to know:
- if you use water from the Orange town water system
- if you can comply with the water restrictions
- if you operate a type of business which is on the list of ‘designated industries’.
Depending on these findings, you may need to:
- Apply for an exemption from the restriction by completing an ‘Exemptions’ form, or
- Look for ways to save water by completing a Water Savings Action Plan
Water Saving Action Plan Water Saving Action Plan Flow Chart Apply for an exemption
Orange City Council recognises that some types of business will generally use more water than others. A list of these designated business has been compiled so we can work with this businesses to try to reduce their water use.
Designated business include: car washes, construction (concreting, bricklaying, painting, other building trades, subdivision development, road construction) commercial nurseries, motels, schools, health care, aged care, caravan parks, hotels and registered clubs, child care, food/pet food production, pet care, business with cooling towers, etc)
BUILDING INDUSTRY AND CONSTRUCTION
If you are working in the building industry or undertaking subdivision construction works, complete and submit the appropriate form below.
Water Saving Action Plan for Building Industry Water Saving Action Plan for Subdivision Work
Am I Eligible For An Exemption?
We acknowledge that in some circumstances, some residents or businesses can ask to be exempt from the current water restrictions. Those seeking to apply for an exemption from current water restrictions will need to complete this form. You will be notified of the result once request has been considered.
