Permanent Water Wise Rules

As part of our commitment to ensuring good water conservation practices, in June 2018  as part of the Water and Sewer Group Customer Service Plan Council adopted a set of water wise rules. This set of three key water saving rules have been developed to promote awareness of our water usage, encourage responsible use of water resources and prevent waste and misuse of water.

These rules are simple, common sense every day actions to help save wasted water and reduce bills, and apply to everyone who sources water from Singleton Council, residents, businesses’ and government alike.

Key Rules

The three key rules are:

  1. Watering with a sprinkler, irrigation system or hose is permitted any day before 10am or after 4pm. This avoids the hottest part of the day when water wastage occurs due to evaporation.
  2. All hand held hoses must have a trigger nozzle attached.
  3. No hosing of paths, driveways, concrete and other paved areas. Use a broom or blower.

The complete details of the key water wise rules are below.

Lawns and Gardens

Watering, including with sprinklers and irrigation systems is permitted any day before 10am and after 4pm to avoid the heat of the day.  All hand held hoses must be fitted with a trigger nozzle.  Watering-cans can be used at any time, as can filling a bucket, washing a vehicle, building or pet, or topping up / filling a swimming pool, provided a trigger nozzle or pressure cleaner is used.

Vehicles and Boats

All road vehicles (including cars, trucks, caravans and cars in car yards) and boats and their trailers may be washed at any time of day with a bucket or a hose provided a trigger nozzle or pressure cleaner is used.  Using a hose to flush boat engines is permitted.

Hard Surfaces

No hosing of paths, driveways, concrete and other paved areas except when cleaning with water is necessary for reasons of safety, health, emergency, construction activity or surface discolouration.

People and Animals

Use of water is allowed at any time for the purpose of cooling people or animals.

Private Pools

Filling or topping up of pools using a hose from Council’s water supply is permitted, as long as the hose if fixed to a timer and not left unattended.

Building Structures

Washing of building structures, including windows, walls, gutters and roofing using a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or high pressure cleaning equipment is permitted.

Exemptions

Council’s water supply can be used:

  • In the event of, or to prevent an accident, health hazard or environmental issue;
  • Washing the floor area of a balcony/verandah/patio is permitted using a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle;
  • Recycled water, bore water, dual reticulation, water used to test fire systems and water used for firefighting is allowed to be used at anytime;
  • Water from rainwater tanks is exempt if it is not connected to or topped up by the drinking water supply system;
  • Watering systems can be used to establish new lawns and gardens for up to 14 days from the date of installation; and
  • The use of water is allowed at any time for the purpose of cooling people or animals.
Back to top