Water Conservation
Wasted water is more than just money down the drain ...it is a waste of one of our most precious resources. Here are some of the many ways that you can reduce the amount of water you use every day and save money at the same time.
Mandatory water restrictions
Level Three mandatory water restrictions now apply across Sydney, Illawarra and the Blue Mountains from 1 June 2005. The Level Three restrictions are:
- Hand-held hosing of lawns and gardens and drip irrigation is allowed
 only on Wednesdays and Sundays before 10 am and after 4 pm
- Hosing of vehicles at residential premises is permitted only with a trigger nozzle or high-pressure water cleaning equipment (to a maximum of 10L/minute)
- Hosing residential building structures including windows, walls and gutters is allowed using a hose with a trigger nozzle or high-pressure water cleaning equipment (to a maximum of 10L/minute)
- No hosing of hard surfaces such as paths or driveways at any time
- No other watering systems or sprinklers are to be used at any time
- A permit from Sydney Water is required to fill new or renovated pools bigger than 10,000 litres
- No hoses or taps to be left running unattended, except when filling pools or containers
- Recycled water, bore water and water used for testing fire systems, fire fighting and related activities are excluded from restrictions.
A fine of $220 applies for all breaches of restrictions by individuals. Corporations face a fine of $550 for each breach. The fine for water theft is $2,200.
The following permitted at any time:
- use a hose with a trigger nozzle to clean cars, boats, boat engines, caravans and houses
- water your garden using a watering can or bucket at any time
- top up an existing a pool
- fill a pool less than 10,000 litres capacity
- use water from a rainwater tank, as long as it is not topped up from Sydney Water’s supply.
For full details visit Sydney Water Restrictions.
Rainwater Tank and Washing Machine Rebates
Sydney Water is offering customers up to a $1500 rebate when you install a rainwater tank for household use, including toilets and or washing machines.  This offer ends 31 July 2009.
A rebate of $150 is available to customers who purchase a new washing machine with a water efficiency rating of 4-star or AAAAA. The rebate offer commenced on 1 March 2006 and will run until 31 July 2008.
4-star or AAAAA water efficient washing machines save more than 21,000 litres of water a year compared to older machines. The rebate offer could help to save one million litres a day.
Visit Sydney Water for more information on the terms and conditions of these rebates.
Bankstown Council's Rainwater Tank Information Brochure explains some basic issues concerning rainwater tanks as well as Council's requirements, however for the current rebate figures please visit Sydney Water.
$22 retrofit program
Sydney Water is currently offering a retrofit program to reduce your household water use. For just $22 a professional plumber will visit your home and replace your current showerhead with a new AAA rated water efficient showerhead, install aerators or flow regulators in your kitchen and bathroom sinks, plus, if you have a single flush toilet cistern, the plumber may adjust the float valve or install a water saving cistern weight.
Most visits take less than an hour, and cost just $22, which is included in your next water bill. For further information, or to make an appointment, phone 1800 995 886.
FREE ‘Do it Yourself’ water-saving kit for households
The NSW Government is offering a free ‘Do It Yourself’ (DIY) Water Saving Kit for every household in Sydney, Illawarra and the Blue Mountains. The kits contain easy to install devices for kitchen taps, bathroom taps and showers, along with instructions to help residents install them.
The devices are estimated to produce an average saving of 16,000 litres of water per household per year – meaning that households may be able to save not only water, but money off their water and energy bills, as less hot water is used.
For more information, visit Sydney Water.
Greywater
This is simply your wastewater from the shower, bath, hand basins, laundry tubs, and washing machines. If used appropriately, greywater can be a great resource for watering your garden. Kitchen water is generally too contaminated to be reused without treatment.
Greywater can be used in 3 ways:
 Manual bucketing – small quantities of greywater are captured in a bucket for re-use outside on gardens or lawns. No council approval required.
- Diversion – greywater diversion devices redirect greywater for use outside the home on gardens or lawns using sub-surface irrigation. No council approval required under certain conditions. Needs a plumber to install.
- Treatment – greywater treatment systems for reuse inside the home (e.g., toilet flushing, washing machine) as well as outside on gardens or lawns. Council approval is required. Needs a plumber to install.
There are regulations that you must follow when installing a greywater system or using your greywater. The State Government has developed guidelines and fact sheets for greywater use in households. The guidelines relate to single, detached households only and do not include premises comprising of more than one dwelling. These guidelines and fact sheets can be downloaded from the NSW Department of Energy Utilities and Sustainability (DEUS).
Be Safe
Be aware of the ingredients in your washing detergent if you are planning on using your washing machine water in the garden. The amount of nutrients, such as phosphorous, and salts, such as sodium chloride, may have an impact on your soil and your plants. Lanfax labs have analysed a large range of laundry products.
FREE water saving tips
 Before going to any of the costly lengths above to save water, you should first look at ways you can reduce water use. Try these ideas inside your home.
Turn off the tap while cleaning your teeth, shaving or peeling vegetables
Take shorter showers
Put a bucket under the shower while waiting for it to get hot and use the water collected to water your plants
Make sure you have a full load before you put on the washing machine or dishwasher
Reduce the water used by the toilet – place a filled up soft drink bottle or toilet flusher saver (available at hardware stores) inside the top of the toilet.
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