Water Restrictions

Stage 2 water restrictions now apply to all water users within the Berrigan Shire as of October 2009.

 

What Stage 2 means in the Garden 
(Including Commercial Accomodation)

Under Stage 2 water restrictions, GARDENS and LAWNS can be watered on specified watering days only in accordance with the following:

► Gardens and Lawns can only be watered from:
          7 am to 9 am and 
          6 pm to 8 pm on your allocation days.

► With a hand-held hose fitted with trigger nozzle.

► With a watering can or bucket.

► By a manual dripper system and/or movable sprinklers operating through a tap timer.

► By an automatic watering system from Midnight to 4am on allocated days.

  

Your allocated days are as follows! 

Even-numbered houses can water on Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Odd-numbered houses can water on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.

If your property does not have a number, it is considered an even-numbered property.

 

Stage 2 Water Restrictions

Stage 2 restrictions are expected to continue until June, 2010. If restrictions change - the Council will distribute a further brochure.

 

Sports-grounds/Schools/Parks

Public sports grounds, school grounds and Parks are exempt from the restrictions.

 

Swimming Pools and Spas (Residential & Commercial.)

X  New Pools or Spas of any capacity cannot be filled without prior written approval from the Council.
► Existing Pools and Spas can be topped up with a hand held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle.

 

Garden Ponds

X  Garden ponds must not be filled from empty.
►  Garden ponds can be topped up with a hand held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle.

 

Fountains

X  Fountains must not be operated.

 

Essential Services / Commercial Enterprises

The Council may grant exemptions in instances that provide continued community benefit or would cause financial hardship. Any such exemptions would be on the basis of the applicant demonstrating that they have implemented stringent water saving measures.

 

Dams & Tanks

X  Dams, tanks or like containers must not be filled or have their water added to or replaced, unless the water is to be used for in-house domestic purposes, stock, fire-fighting purposes or with written permission of the  Council.

 

Construction Industry

► Only a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle may be used during the construction or repair of any building or works.

 

Cleaning Paving, Concrete and Other Hard Services (Including Houses, Walls, Sheds etc.)

X  Water must not be used to clean hard surfaces except  for health and safety reasons, and only when dirt and debris cannot be removed without water, and only then by means of a bucket or hand-held hose fitted with a trigger mechanism.

 

Mobile Water Tankers

X  A tanker permit from the Council is required.
►  Tankers with permits may fill at anytime if the water is to be used for firefighting, construction, in-house use, stock watering, crop spraying or public health reasons. 

 

Vehicle Cleaning

►  Hand-held hoses fitted with a trigger nozzle or high pressure cleaning device can be used for vehicle washing on a grassed area at any time on your appointed day. A commercial car wash can be used.

 

Water supplied to premises must not be:

X  Taken away from the supplied premises.
X  Used contrary to a Council notice restricting water use

 

Exemptions

►  Use of recycled, grey or rainwater is exempt unless it has been mixed with water from the reticulated supply.
►  Commercial car wash facilities that use water from a source other than the Council’s reticulated water system or use less than 70 litres of water per vehicle.
►  Council operated truck wash facilities may only be used to clean livestock cartage vehicles, but permit is required.
►  Essential cleaning of paved areas at Finley Livestock Exchange may take place at any time as long as the hose used is in good condition and wastage is minimized.
►  Bowling greens or golf course tees and greens, public sports grounds, school grounds and other public places are exempt from the restrictions.
►  Commercial Enterprises / Essential Services may be granted an exemption if they can demonstrate financial hardship or a community benefit.

 

Applications for Exemptions

►  Applications for temporary or permanent exemptions must be made in writing and addressed to the General Manager.
X  Exemptions can be considered, amended or revoked at any time.  

 

Penalties

X  Persons who willfully or negligently waste or misuse water from a public water supply are guilty of an offence - penalty $220. 

X  Continual offenders may be prosecuted. Maximum penalty that could be issued is $2,200 or 20 penalty units.

 

A Guide to Reading your Water Meter

The basic unit of volume for water meters is the kilolitre (kl). 1 kl = 1,000 litres.

When checking your consumption on your new water meters;
          The BLACK numbers indicate the amount of water used in kilolitres.
          The RED numbers indicate the amount of water used in litres.

The reading on the example above is 42 kilolitres.
Figures in RED (litres) will be disregarded when calculating your usage.

IF the red numbers are turning then there is currently water passing through the meter.

Water Consumption charges are calculated on a per kilolitre basis using the following tariffs;

Treated water                       $1.00
Unfiltered water                     $0.50
Tocumwal single supply           $0.67