Much of Australia is in drought which means every precious drop of water counts. Level 2 water restrictions are in place in many parts of the country to help save water but what does that really mean for you?
Yes, there’s been huge amounts of rainfall along the eastern seaboard recently but the jury is still out on whether this is temporary – and welcome – relief from the drought or a sign that Australia is about to begin the long road to recovery from drought conditions.
Restrictions will be eased back down to Level 1 in NSW from 1 March after Sydney’s dams reached 80 percent capacity following the deluge of the last two weeks but in the meantime, it’s important to save water in every way we can.
are there Level 2 water restrictions in my area?
To find out if there are water restrictions in your area and what that means for you, click on the links below to take you to information for your state.
what do Level 2 water restrictions mean?
Water restrictions have different meanings for different states.
In Sydney for example, Level 2 water restrictions were triggered in early December 2019 when dam levels fell to just 45 percent capacity. The restrictions involve, among others, the following:
- gardens can only be watered before 10am or after 4pm with a watering can or bucket
- smart and drip irrigation systems may only be used for 15 minutes before 10am or after 4pm
- the use of unattended hoses is not permitted
- hosing of hard surfaces is not permitted, unless in an emergency
- cars can only be washed with a bucket or at a commercial car wash
- a permit is required before filling a pool of any size.
Failing to follow the restrictions can result in a fine of $220 for residents and $550 for businesses.
how can I save water?
There are plenty of ways to save water on a daily basis. It’s about changing habits and realising that every drop of water that comes from the tap is a precious commodity which must be used wisely.
Easy ways to save water include:
- Putting a bucket in the shower with you and using the water on your garden.
- Setting a timer so that you limit showers to three minutes or less.
- Installing water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors.
- Avoiding baths altogether.
- Swapping your kettle for a BIBO water bar. Instant chilled, warm or boiling water on demand. There’s no waiting for the tap to run cold when you’re thirsty or overfilling the kettle to boil when you’re gasping for a cup of tea which means less water is wasted as you are only using exactly what you need.
- Filling the kitchen sink to wash by hand instead of allowing the tap to run.
- Wetting your toothbrush and then turning off the tap as you clean your teeth.
- Turning off the tap as you shave.
- Checking your toilet for leaks.
- Using a bucket to wash the car instead of a hose.
- Using a watering can to water plants.
- Installing rain water tanks.
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