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ENHANCED LEVEL 3 WATER RESTRICTIONS FROM JANUARY 1, 2007

NEW GARDEN WATERING TIMES AS DAYLIGHT SAVING ENDS

Domestic Gardens and Lawns

Hand-held hoses fitted with a trigger nozzle or drip-watering systems can be used between 6am and 9am and from 5pm to midnight on any day. Watering cans and buckets may be used at any time.
Sprinkler systems can be used on one day a week for three hours in the morning or for three hours in the evening in accordance with the following:
Even numbered houses can use sprinklers from 6am to 9am and 5pm to 8pm on Saturdays.
Odd numbered houses from 6am to 9am and 5pm to 8pm on Sundays
Sprinklers cannot be used to water verges.

These restrictions apply to:

All SA Water customers supplied with River Murray water and on Kangaroo Island.
Water taken directly from the River Murray for domestic use(both licensed and unlicensed water),including water used by shack owners.

Permanent water conservation measures remain in place for SA Water customers in other areas and Eyre Peninsular remains on the restrictions introduced in December 2002.

Sports Grounds and Recreation Facilities

Hand-held hoses fitted with a trigger nozzle may be used on any day but only before 8am or after 8pm.
Watering cans and buckets may be used at any time.
Sprinkler systems may be used once a week between the hours of 8pm and 8am.
The day of the week and time of operation for each of the sprinkler stations is to be determined in conjunction with SA Water and subject to a permit. Testing of sprinklers will not be permitted without prior approval of SA Water.

A fountain, pond or water feature that does not recycle water must not be operated and must not be topped up unless it supports fish.
The level of water in a fountain, pond or water feature that recycles water may be topped up only with water from a hand held hose or bucket. Fountains, ponds and water features must not be refilled after emptying.

Existing pools and spas must not be refilled from empty. The level of water in a swimming pool or spa that has been previously filled with water may be topped up or maintained only with water from a hand held hose or bucket. New pools or spas may be filled only under the authority of a permit from SA Water. A permit will not be granted unless there is proof a cover has been purchased to prevent water loss through evaporation. Children’s wading pools must not be filled with more than 250 litres of water.

Water must not be used to wash a vehicle except by means of a commercial car wash or a bucket filled directly from a tap. Hoses are not to be used. Boat owners are permitted to flush out motors and rinse off metal parts to prevent corrosion.

Grassed sites that have been damaged by cars, caravans and tents with a sprinkler no more than once per week at any time for no more than 30 minutes at any time.
These are the toughest restrictions in South Australia after the driest winter and the lowest inflows into the River Murray on record.

Permits allow watering under the following conditions:

October – March

Grassed sites that have been damaged by cars, caravans and/or tents may be watered with a sprinkler for not more than 30 minutes on the day the area is vacated. If grassed areas are not being used then they may be watered with a sprinkler no more than once per week, for no more than 30 minutes at any time.

Caravan and Camping Sites

Permits are required to water outside the garden and lawn guidelines.

Commercial Nurseries and Garden Centres

Hand held hoses fitted with a trigger nozzle, watering cans, buckets and drip-watering systems may be used at any time to water plants in commercial nurseries and garden centres.
Sprinkler systems may be used between the hours of 8pm and 8am.
On days when the maximum temperature is forecast to exceed 30 degrees sprinkler systems may also be used between the hours of 1pm and 2pm.

Swimming Pools and Spas

Fountains, Ponds and Water Features

Hard Surfaces

Water must not be used to wash paved or concreted areas, decking, walls or roofs of a building at any time unless it is necessary to do so to protect public health, ensure safety of people using the area, ensure the health and welfare of animals using the area or in case of accident, fire or other emergency.
Windows may be cleaned from a bucket filled directly from a tap.

Areas Covered

April – September

Washing Cars and Boats

The River Murray provides about 40 per cent of Adelaide’s water needs but this can reach 90 per cent in drought years.It will take substantial rain to ease the pressure on our precious water resource.

An exciting and innovative range of water saving, water collection and water reuse products are becoming available.

Be Water Smart and Save By being water efficient around your home and garden you can help save the environment and money.
In South Australian homes, most of the water is used for garden and outdoor activities. Other areas which use a lot of water are the bathroom, laundry, toilet and kitchen

Toilet 12%
Kitchen 12%
Laundry 16%
Bathroom 20%
Garden and Outdoor Activities 40%

Inefficient shower roses can use up to 20 litres of water a minute.
Water efficient models can use as little as 6 litres a minute.
A water efficient shower rose, could save 3000 litres of water a year by reducing water use each time someone showers.
Water efficient shower heads also save energy so you save money on both your water and power bills!
Running taps can waste up to 17 litres of water a minute.
Aerators or flow restrictors on taps use half the water as standard taps.
Water efficient toilets can use as little as three litres of water on a half flush a quarter of the amount used by standard single flush toilets.
Leaking toilet cisterns can lose you thousands of litres of water a year.

Did you know:

Water Use in the Home

Find your nearest Eco Smart plumber by calling * 1300 723 216 * for more information.

STATE GOVERNMENT

SA Water also have rebates available for Tap Timers, Flow Restrictors and Water efficient shower heads.

A standard rebate of $10 dollars per item up to a maximum of $50 dollars, or $20 dollars per item to a maximum of $100 dollars for SA Water and/or Family and Youth Services concession cardholders provides an incentive to install these water saving devices.

To qualify for the rebate, customers need proof of purchase (a receipt) of an approved water saving device or product and, in the case of flow restrictors, proof of installation by a licensed plumber.

A limit of one application per property applies.

For more information, including how to apply for a rebate, download the General Water rebates .

For more information on Rainwater tanks, including how to apply for a rebate, download the Rainwater Tank Rebate Applications.

In June 2006, the Premier announced the introduction of a Rainwater Tank Plumbing Rebate Scheme effective of 1st July 2006 in order to encourage the community to become more water efficient. On 10th April 2007, the State Government widened the scheme. This scheme is being administered by SA Water on behalf of the Government.

The rebate will apply to the following;

* Your property has not had a significant additional extension constructed (additional roof size over 500m2) from 1 July 2006 or was newly constructed from 1 July 2006. (These cases are subject to a separate building requirement from 1 July 2006 that installation and connection of a rainwater tank is mandatory for which no rebate applies).

* This rebate will cover the plumbing work and not the cost of the tank.

* The rainwater tank must be connected to at least one of the following; Toilet cistern, all laundry cold water outlets or hot water service.

* The rainwater tank must have the capacity of 1000L or greater.

* Automatic switching device between rainwater and any mains water or other appropriate supply.

* Appropriate backflow prevention device installed.

* All pipework and outlets to be appropriately signed and marked.

Rebatable "Plumbing Work" Includes:

* Piping connecting a tank to a designated outlet inside the home,

* Appropriate backflow prevention device

* Pressure Pump

* Automatic switching device (again between tank and any mains water or other appropriate supply i.e. bore or dam)

*A manual switching device is sufficient for people to qualify for the rebate provided they have proof of installation by a Licensed plumber

* Labour

* Sundry materials

* Other allowable items as determined by SA Water

For applicants to receive this rebate the following must be supplied to your customer for all plumbing work;

* A SA Water Certificate of Compliance

* A fully itemised invoice detailing the services rendered. The invoice supplied with form the main evidence that all required components have been installed

Should the above documentation not be supplied or if the invoice is inadequately itemised a customer's application will not be approved.

Applications will also be subject to a site inspection to ensure all plumbing requirements/standards have been met.

If you are unsure what the plumbing requirements or standards are for plumbing rainwater into a home, a "Rainwater Plumbing Guide" booklet is available from SA Water.

For more information please visit www.sawater.com.au or for technical advice call SA Water's Senior Compliance Officer
Matt Minagall on (08) 8463 6055

The revised scheme offers rebates of:

· Up to $800 to purchase a new rainwater tank and plumb it into an existing home

· Up to $600 to plumb a rainwater tank into an existing home

· Up to $200 for a new rainwater tank of 1,000 litres or more plumbed in the home. This rebate applies to people wishing to add an additional or replacement tank to their existing plumbed system

A review of the 373 applications received by SA Water up until April 5 this year indicated that only 147 had been approved with a further 26 awaiting inspection.

However, 200 applications were rejected for a variety of reasons, but more than half (117) were not accepted due to incorrect or inadequate documentation being provided by homeowners. It’s essential that people applying for a rebate provide proof of purchase and installation by producing an itemised plumbing invoice detailing all plumbing work, including parts and labour.

The revised scheme will be backdated to July 1 last year, so those homeowners who’ve already benefited will now be eligible for the increased rebate.

In October last year, the scheme was modified to remove a requirement for automatic switching between rainwater and mains water. A manual switching device is sufficient for people to qualify for the rebate provided they have proof of installation by a Licensed plumber.

Special Note:

Existing homes not connected to SA Water mains are eligible to obtain the rainwater tank rebate as long as the house is interconnected with an alternative water source i.e. a bore, ground water, a dam and plumbed into at least one of the following:

· Toilet cistern

· All laundry cold water outlets

· Hot water service

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 24 February 2010 )

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ENHANCED LEVEL 3 WATER RESTRICTIONS FROM JANUARY 1, 2007 NEW GARDEN WATERING TIMES AS DAYLIGHT SAVING ENDS Domestic Gardens and Lawns