Hunter Water has deployed six community water officers to monitor compliance after water restrictions began on Monday.
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Level 1 water restrictions now apply across the Lower Hunter, due to the severe drought that has had a "significant impact" on the region's dam levels.
Hunter Water's Acting CEO Graham Wood said the water officers will work to educate people on what water restrictions mean and that fines may apply to those who do not comply after a three month grace period.
"Our teams will be working one-on-one with large customers and commercial operators to prepare and implement Water Efficiency Management Plans to identify water savings and ensure the continuity of their operations," Mr Wood said.
"Hunter Water will also continue to prioritise leakage to reduce water losses across its water network. While we are making improvements, we will continue to invest in this area."
Hunter Water's Executive Drought Lead Darren Cleary said water restrictions played an important part in Hunter Water's drought response.
"With the region's dams continuing to fall, water restrictions will help reduce demand on the water supply as we head into what's likely to be a very hot and dry summer.
"If the dry conditions persist, Level 2 water restrictions may be introduced by the end of the year."
Level 1 water restrictions for homes and businesses:
- Outdoor watering before 10am or after 4pm with a trigger nozzle.
- All hoses must have a trigger nozzle
- No hosing of hard surfaces such as concrete, paths and driveways
- Wash your vehicle on the grass using a trigger nozzle
- No sprinklers.
What's Excluded From Water Restrictions?
There are basic exclusions from restrictions activity:
- Recycled Water
- Greywater (water from sinks, showers, washing machines etc.)
- Rainwater (provided the tank/dam is not topped from, or switched to, the drinking water supply)
- Bore water
- Water used for firefighting, testing and related activities.
Watering lawns and gardens
You can:
- To avoid the heat of the day, water lawns and gardens by hand held hose before 10am and after 4pm if fitted with a trigger nozzle or device that can be turned off instantly
- Use drip irrigation systems before 10am and after 4pm
You can't:
- Use sprinklers at any time
- Leave hoses or taps running unattended
Cleaning external hard surfaces (paths, driveways & concrete)
You can
- Spot clean for safety, health or emergency reasons with a hose fitted with trigger nozzle or with high pressure cleaning equipment
You can't
- Use a hose for general cleaning of hard surfaces such as paths, driveways and paved areas
- Leave hoses and taps running unattended
Washing vehicles, boats and buildings
You can
- Wash vehicles, boats & buildings if using a bucket, high pressure cleaning equipment or a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle
Tip: wash your car on your lawn and your grass will benefit
You can't
- Wash vehicles, boats and buildings using a hose without a trigger nozzle
Filling private pools and spas
You can
- Top up existing pools if using a trigger nozzle or device that can be turned off instantly
- Fill a new or renovated pool or spa over 10,000 litres capacity by obtaining a permit and using an approved pool cover
You can't
- Top up an existing pool without using a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or device that can be turned off instantly
- Leave an unattended hose running in a pool
- Fill a new or renovated pool or spa over 10,000 litres capacity unless you have a permit and an approved pool cover
Internal use
You can
- Help water saving efforts by repairing internal leaks as quickly as possible, such as dripping taps or leaking toilets
Tip: Fixing a leaking toilet can save you between 10 to 260 litres a day.