Water Restrictions
It’s important for the Orange community to use water responsibly. To help manage water-use for the community, Orange City Council has Water Restrictions in place.
From Saturday 6 April Orange Level 4 water restrictions are in force.
You can find out more about the key differences in this online coverage.
To keep the community informed and to provide better feedback on their water saving efforts, the council publishes the latest information about how much water is being used and the level of water storage.
There are more details in this table.
Currently Level 4 restrictions are in place
Click here to download and print an information sheet about water restriction levels.
RESTRICTIONS EXPLAINED
Level 3
TRIGGER-POINT : 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:
6am – 9am
6pm – 9pm
WATER FEATURES
- Water features can be topped up.
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
TRIGGER POINT : 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 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
TRIGGER POINT : 35% of total storage capacity
LAWNS
- No watering.
RESIDENTIAL GARDENS
- No sprinklers, micro-sprays, drip systems or soaker hoses.
- Buckets and watering cans only during limited hours. Two days a week only (Wednesdays & Sundays 6pm-8pm).
- One hand-held hose with a trigger-nozzle for up to half an hour during those two periods.
WATER FEATURES
- No.
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.
Level 5a
TRIGGER POINT : 25 % of total storage capacity
LAWNS
- No watering.
RESIDENTIAL GARDENS
- No sprinklers, micro-sprays, drip systems or soaker hoses.
- Buckets or watering cans only during limited hours. One day a week only for 30 mins. (Sundays 6pm-6.30pm).
- One hand-held hose with a trigger-nozzle for up to 30 mins during that period.
WATER FEATURES
- No.
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.
KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LEVEL 3 & LEVEL 4
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 & LEVEL 5
Key differences between Level 4 and Level 5
- No sprinklers, micro-sprays, drip systems or soaker hoses.
- Buckets and watering cans and a hand-held hose with a trigger nozzle for 30 minutes during same limited hours of 2 hours a day on two days a week (Wed and Sun).
- No topping up swimming pools
- No washing cars at home
Smart water advice
Orange City Council is a proud supporter of Smart Water Advice. In collaboration with Smart Approved WaterMark, we are providing a range of tips and resources to help you save water in your home, garden and at work
Rainwater Tank Rebate
As another water conservation measure, Orange City Council offers a rebate to home owners to encourage them to install rain water tanks.
There are a number of criteria to qualify for the rebate which ranges from $100 to $750, depending on the size of the tank and how it’s installed.
This Rainwater Tank Rebate Application Form and Policy includes more details about the criteria. The completed form should be sent to council@orange.nsw.gov.au
The blue house
Check out this interactive resource from Smart Approved Water Mark.
You are invited to spend five minutes in our water loving home to see how easy it is to save water. You can apply these handy tips to your own home.
Ploughmans Valley & North Orange Dual Water Scheme
This is an important initiative which aims to reduce consumption of drinking water in the Ploughmans Valley & North Orange area by 40%. Instead of using drinking-water, residents can use stormwater collected from the city’s wetlands to irrigate gardens and flush toilets.
This Fact Sheet answers a range of questions from – can I give the water from the purple tap to my pets? Can I wash the car using the purple tap water? Or can I use it to fill the swimming pool?
All houses in the Ploughmans Valley & North Orange area built since 2005 are required to be equipped with a ‘dual water’ plumbing system. Beginning at the distinctive purple-coloured water meter at the front of your property, your house is designed to have two sets of plumbing: one that supplies water to toilets and outdoor taps, and one for all other uses (drinking taps, hot water, washing machines, showers, baths, etc).
Because of the drought, the NSW government gave Orange City Council permission to postpone connecting newly-built houses to the recycled water system until the storm water wetlands were constructed and a second set of water mains were completed.
Applying for an exemption from water restrictions
Orange City Council acknowledges that in some circumstances, some businesses or residents can ask to be exempt from the current Water Restrictions. Residents and businesses who want to apply for an exemption from current water restrictions need to complete this form. You will be notified of the result once request has been considered.
