New date for Level 6 water restrictions pushed back
Good inflows from both the Macquarie pipeline and the city’s stormwater harvesting have again pushed back the date when Level 6 water restrictions could begin in Orange. (more…)
LEVEL 5 RESTRICTIONS ARE IN PLACE FROM OCTOBER 6
Restrictions Explained
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:
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
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 - CURRENT
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. (Daylight saving time : 6am to 8 am Sunday mornings or 6pm to 8pm 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 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 5 restrictions is 160 litres per person per day.
DAILY RESIDENTIAL WATER CONSUMPTION (LITRES PER PERSON PER DAY)
Date Consumption
26 March 2020 122
19 March 2020 143
12 March 2020 141
5 March 2020 152
27 February 2020 138
20 February 2020 120
13 February 2020 116
6 February 2020 129
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)
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.
