In your home

Melbourne's water restrictions

We have in place a Permanent Water Saving Plan and a Drought Response Plan. The Permanent Water Saving Plan contains a set of common sense rules that guide sensible outdoor water usage. This plan is designed to ensure Victorians use water sensibly and avoid waste.

The Drought Response Plan sets out how the metropolitan retailers will manage water during times of water shortage, including through the imposition of staged water restrictions.

Current water restrictions

Stage 1 water restrictions are in place from 1 December 2011.

On Stage 1 you can now water lawns and gardens, however we encourage you to continue your responsible and sustainable water use – both inside and outside the home.

For information on Stage 1 water restrictions in different languages click here

Stage 1	You can...
Hand watering	Water gardens and lawns as needed at any time, on any day using a hand held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, watering can or bucket.
Watering systems (on your specified watering days)	You can water gardens and lawns using a watering system (manual, automatic, sprayer or dripper) only between the hours of 6 -10 am and 6 -10 pm on alternate days.
Watering days (for watering systems)	Alternate days means people may use their watering systems on an odds and evens, date-based approach: Even and no numbered houses may water on even dates e.g. 2nd, 4th, 6th, etc. Odd numbered properties may water on odd dates e.g. 1st, 3rd, 5th, etc. Everyone may water on the 31st.
Car washing	You can now use a handheld hose fitted with a trigger nozzle to wash your car as well as a high pressure cleaning unit, watering can or bucket at any time, any day of the week. You can continue to use an efficient commercial car wash.
Pools and spas	Top-up pools or spas with a hand held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or automatic water top up device. Fill pools and spas (2,000 litres or less) using a hand held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or automatic water top up device. New pools and spas of more than 2,000 litres can only be filled with drinking water when done so under a Water Use Plan – contact your water utility.
Hard surfaces	You cannot hose down hard surfaces including windows, building facades, driveways, paths, concrete tiles, timber decking and other paved areas except where cleaning is required a a result of an accident, fire, health hazard, safety hazard, or other emergency. You can use a high pressure cleaning unit in the course of construction or renovation.

Permanent Water Saving Plan

Our Permanent Water Saving Plan (PDF 124KB) details basic water saving behaviours, commonly called Permanent Water Rules, that help avoid unnecessary water waste. Originally introduced in March 2005, these rules are a common sense approach to long term water saving and have recently been updated to ensure consistency statewide.

Drought Response Plan

Our Drought Response Plans incorporates four stages of water restrictions and specify what can and can not be done when each stage of restriction is in place. If a stage of restriction is in place, it supercedes Permanent Water Rules.