As of June 1, 2019, the city of Sydney will be placed under level one water restrictions for the first time in almost a decade. The restrictions have come about around two months earlier than initially predicted by Metropolitan Water Plan, due to the dam levels sitting at a mere 53.5 percent and losing up to 0.5 percent per week.
Water Minister Melinda Pavey told media that:
“Water restrictions are an important drought response because they target the outdoor water use of all households. Regional NSW has been experiencing a record drought. Water restrictions in Sydney mean that households across NSW are doing their bit to conserve water.”
What water restriction are currently being enforced?
According to Sydney Water, the water restrictions apply to everyone in Sydney, The Blue Mountains and the Illawarra – both residents and businesses.
From June 1, 2019 you can not:
- Use standard sprinklers and watering systems at any time
- You can not leave hoses running unattended
- You can not wash vehicles and buildings with a hose that isn’t fitted with a trigger nozzle, or high pressure cleaning equipment
- You can not clean hard surfaces such as paths, driveways and paved areas with a hose as part of general cleaning
There will be a three-month grace period before fines apply to incorrect use of water, and won't be issued until after 1 September. However, after this date, fines apply to incorrect water usage.
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