Order of Level 1 (2020) Water Restrictions (2020-60) (NSW)

HUNTER WATER ACT 1991 (NSW)

HUNTER WATER REGULATION 2015 (NSW)

Order of Level 1 (2020) Water Restrictions

The recent rainfall has boosted dam storage levels in Hunter Water Corporation’s Area of Operations, however it is necessary and in the public’s interest to continue to maintain the Lower Hunter’s water supply. I therefore make the following order in accordance with Clause 33 of the Hunter Water Regulation 2015 for the following water restrictions, known as Level 1 (2020) Water Restrictions.

This order is to take effect at 12.01am on Monday 24 February 2020, and revokes the Order of Level 2 Water
Restrictions of 12 January 2020.

The water restrictions listed below remain in force until further notice; apply in the whole of the Area of Operations of the Hunter Water Corporation; and apply to all users of drinking water supplied by Hunter Water Corporation or sourced from a water main owned by Hunter Water Corporation and supplied by a person licenced under the Water Industry Competition Act 2006 (NSW).

A. Restrictions:

Subject to the Automatic and Approvable Exemptions below at Sections C and D, the following uses of drinking water are not permitted at any time:

1.     the use of sprinklers, watering of playing fields, lawns, gardens or other vegetation using sprinklers, irrigation systems or hoses;

2.     the hosing of hard surfaces;

3.     the filling of new or renovated pools greater than 10,000 litres capacity.

B. Regulation

1.     All non-residential customers who are supplied with over 50 million litres of water per year by Hunter Water Corporation must continue to implement a Water Efficiency Management Plan (WEMP).

2.     All non-residential customers who are supplied with over 10 million litres of water per year by Hunter Water Corporation must continue to develop a WEMP.

3.     Subject to the Automatic and Approvable Exemptions below at Section C and D, the following uses of drinking water supplied by Hunter Water Corporation within its Area of Operations are regulated as follows. You must not allow:

a.	The unattended running of hoses or taps; or
b.	Water to be lost or misused as a result of a defect in your water system (as defined in the Hunter Water Corporation Customer Contract) in circumstances where the owner or occupier (as applicable) is aware of the defect and no rectification work has been arranged.

C. Automatic Exemptions

1.     The use of bore water or water from a recycled water system;

2.     The use of rainwater provided that any storage tank or dam is not topped up from, or switched to, Hunter Water Corporation’s drinking water supply;

3.     The watering of lawns and gardens before 10am and after 4pm on any day using a hand-held hose fitted with an instant on-off mechanism such as a trigger nozzle;

4.     The use of fire hoses for firefighting purposes, hazard reduction purposes or fire service testing;

5.     Spot cleaning with a hose of paths, driveways and other hard surfaces when cleaning with water is necessary for reasons (readily identifiable to an authorised person) of a safety, health or emergency incident. For any use of water under this category of exclusion the hose used must be fitted with a trigger nozzle unless it is used to supply high pressure water cleaning equipment;

6.     Washing of vehicles or vessels of any type, using a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, high pressure water cleaning equipment, or a bucket and sponge (or similar arrangement);

7.     The use of water for flushing inboard and outboard boat engines by means of a hose fitted with an appropriate flushing device;

8.     The use of water by means of a hose fitted with a trigger or high-pressure water cleaning equipment for cleaning bilges or essential safety components on boat trailers, including wheels and brakes;

9.     The washing of building structures, including windows, walls, gutters and roofing using high pressure water cleaning equipment or hose fitted with a trigger nozzle;

10.  The use of water by means of an attended hose fitted with a trigger nozzle for topping up water in pools to replace water lost through normal use conditions including evaporation;

11.  The use of water for dust suppression but only where there is no alternative water source reasonably available in the situation. Where a dust incident involves hazardous dust (eg asbestos), use of water must comply with the applicable incident response guidelines for the specific hazardous substance involved.

D. Approvable Exemptions

You must apply for a permit from Hunter Water Corporation to be able to use drinking water for the following uses and in accordance with any conditions attached to that permit:

1.     Watering of newly laid turf;

2.     Filling a new or renovated pool greater than 10,000 litres capacity;

3.     Watering of playing fields, lawns, gardens or other vegetation using a sprinkler, soaker hose or irrigation system (including drip, spray, micro spray, rotary and pop-up fixed spray systems);

4.     Any other use in accordance with the conditions of a Level 1 (2020) Water Restrictions exemption permit granted by Hunter Water Corporation.

E. Definitions

Area of Operations has the same meaning as in Hunter Water Act 1991 (NSW).

Authorised Person has the same meaning as in Hunter Water Act 1991 (NSW). For the purposes of this Order only, the reference to ‘the land to which the power extends’ in Section 21(4)(e) of Hunter Water Act 1991 (NSW) means all land within Hunter Water Corporation’s Area of Operations.

Hunter Water Corporation may determine definitions of other words used in this Order (such as equipment referred to) and make those definitions available publicly via the Hunter Water website.

If you do not have an Automatic or Approvable Exemption, you must comply with the Level 1 (2020) Water individual and $550 for a corporation.

Dated 18 February 2020

The Hon MELINDA JANE PAVEY MP
Minister for Water, Property and Housing