Flexibility to water your garden morning or night

Effective 1 September 2010, Stage 2 water restrictions provide Melburnians with even
more flexibility in watering their gardens.  For veggie gardeners or those with extra thirsty
plants, you can now use a watering can, bucket or hand held hose fitted with a trigger
nozzle as needed.

For those with manual systems - they can now be used between 6 am - 8 am and
8 pm - 10 pm on your watering days.

If someone in your household is 70 years or over you can use a manual watering system between 8 - 10 am instead of 6 - 8 am, and still between 8 - 10 pm on your specified watering days.

For those with automatic watering systems - they can now be used between midnight
and 4 am on your watering days.

Remember lawns can still not be watered at any time with drinking water.

Watering still occurs on alternate days, using an odds and evens, date-based approach.  This means:

• Even and no-numbered properties can water on even dates e.g. 2nd, 4th, 6th, etc.
• Odd numbered properties can water on odd dates e.g. 1st, 3rd, 5th, etc.
• All properties can water on the 31st, within permitted times.
  

See below for how Stage 2 now gives you the choice to wash your car at home, top up pools via a trigger nozzle, fill child-sized play pools and for other important rules
to remember.

Enjoying the additional flexibility of Stage 2

What's changed?	From 1 September 2010 you may now....
Watering times	Manual watering systems can now be used between the hours of  6 - 8 am and 8 - 10 pm - on your watering days. Automatic watering systems can now be used beween midnight and 4 am - on your watering days.
Hand watering	Water extra thirsty plants or vegetables as needed with a watering can, bucket or trigger nozzle.
Car washing	Wash your car at home using a bucket or high pressure cleaning device.
Pools and spas	Top-up existing pools and spas with a trigger nozzle. Fill baby-sized pools or spas (500 litres or less) via a trigger nozzle. Fill play pools and spas (2,000 litres or less).

What stays the same?
Your watering days	Even and no numbered houses can water on even dates  e.g. 2nd, 4th, 6th etc. Odd numbered properties can water on odd dates  e.g. 1st, 3rd, 5th etc. Everyone can water on the 31st.
Lawns	Lawns can not be watered at any time with drinking water. For an exemption to establish warm season grass visit www.warmseasongrass.com.au
Alternate times for 70+	Households with someone aged 70 years over still have the ability to water gardens at the alternate time of 8 - 10 am.
Pools and spas - 2,000 litres or more	Pools and spas of more than 2,000 litres can only be filled with drinking water when done so under a Water Conversation Plan - contact your retailer.
Personal target	Target 155 will remain - encouraging Melburnians to maintain their wise use of water and to balance their indoor and uutdoor water consumption.
Car washing	You can continue to use an efficient commerical car wash. You cannot use any hose to wash your car.

Download a Stage 2 fact sheet (PDF 617KB).

Download a detailed Stage 2 fact sheet which summarises Yarra Valley Water's Drought Response Plan (PDF 108KB)

Download Yarra Valley Water's Drought Response Plan (PDF 2,118KB)

View the 1 September 2010 Public Notice in the Herald Sun (PDF 87KB).

Permanent Water Saving Plan

When restrictions are not in place, Yarra Valley Water operates in accordance with a Permanent Water Saving Plan which sets out guidelines on the use of water in the area of Yarra Valley Water's licence. To view the current version of this plan click here (PDF 125KB).


About restrictions
Understanding Stage 2

Gardening rules
More detail about Stage 2 and gardens

Pools and spas
Rules for pools, spas and topping up

Exempt playing surfaces and tennis clubs
What sportsgrounds and tennis clubs are doing to save water

Vehicle washing
Rules about vehicle washing

Industry
Businesses are saving water too

Penalties and enforcement
Stage 2 water restrictions must be followed and water patrols are out in force

Exemptions
Available exemptions and who can apply

Solutions
What you can do

Report a breach
Who to contact to report a breach