Vehicle washing

Under Stage 3a water restrictions, can I wash my car?

Yes, by visiting a water efficient car wash that uses 70 litres of water or less per vehicle.

Cars my not be washed at home with drinking water. You may use a bucket, filled directly from a tap to clean car windows, mirrors and lights; and to spot-remove corrosive substances.

Hand-held hoses and high-pressure water cleaners cannot be used any time for vehicle washing.

On cold mornings or evenings, am I allowed to use water from a hose to clear ice or condensation from my car windows and mirrors?

No. Under Stage 3a water restrictions you can only use a bucket filled directly from a tap (and not by means of a hose) to clean windows.

To remove condensation, frost or ice, a scraper, squeegee or rubber-edged scraper can be used to clear windows and mirrors.

Another option is to turn on your defroster, if your car has one, or if you have air-conditioning, first turn your heater on and then press the air-conditioning button. This will keep the inside of the windows from fogging up.

 Commercial vehicle wash - water conservation plan report (PDF 88KB)

 Commercial vehicle wash - fact sheet (PDF 86KB)