December 2011

Due to excellent rainfall totals and improved water management, the Bailliue Government announced that Melbourne water restrictions have been eased..

Watch out for the water bill though, their have been some very hefty increases in the price of water and it may be a case of goodbye water restrictions, hello big water bills.According to reports published in the Age from the 1st of January 2012 you will be paying 260% more for your water than you did in 2009. Thats right 260% more.

You might also consider calling us on 1300 133 354 so you can discover the pleasure of showering in your garden, but don't worry the neighbors can't see you.

Under Stage 1 Melbourne Water Restrictions You Can:

• Children can run through sprinklers this summer, (give us a call if someone tries to tell you different)

• Water your lawn

• Water your garden at any time with a trigger hose or bucket

• Use your old fashioned water guzzling irrigation system between 6am-10am and 6pm-10pm on the odds and evens system.

• In Melbourne the water restictions permit even numbered homes to water on even days of the month and odd numbered homes to water on odd dates.

• Everyone can water on the 31st of each month.

• You can wash your car with a trigger hose

Remember to keep an eye on your water bills though! We believe that some shockers are going to be delivered to thousands of mail boxes around Melbourne in the first half of 2012 based on the massive cumulative price rises that have been occured over the last 3 years. Let us know if you receive a bill with the added bonus of an extra zero.

Its great to see gardens making a strong comeback and Councils and Schools should be able to water playing fields, hopefully with more effecient practices than occured 10 years ago. Councils wishing to develop effective water management and cost effecient water practice should contact us on 0434 707 109 to discuss the most water effective ways to water playing fields.

Historic Information

September 2010 Melbourne Water Restrictions Eased Further

In September 2010 Metropolitan Melbourne water restrictions were eased to stage two.

You can water your garden at any time with a Trigger hose, bucket or watering can.

Your manual  irrigation system can operate between 6-8am and 8-10pm on alternate days, odd number homes on odd numbered dates, even numbers on even days.

Automatic systems are permitted between midnight and 4am on the same od and evens system.

Greywater systems can operate at any time. Bear in mind that your plants do not take up water while its dark.

Water Restrictions Eased! 16th of March 2010

Melbournes Dams at 32.7% June 12th 2010

Despite Melbourne's dams being at a frighteningly low levels water restrictions were eased to Stage 3.

You cannot wash your car at home,

You can use an irrigation system that wastes 80% of all the water it consumes for 6-8 hours per week or two hours every second day.

You can stand there with a hose every second morning between 6-8am, hope you have a good torch. 

You can read the announcement proclaiming that water Melbourne's woes are over, thanks to billions of dollars of spending at

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/component/content/article/9774.html ... mmm, sounds familiar... didn't we hear that the GFC was over thanks to billions of dollars of government spending.

At Waterwise Systems we would suggest that Melbourne's water problems are only just beginning. The first question is who will pay the bill for this spending? Us as we age, our children, or will it be our grandchildren 

STAGE 3A:

STAGE 3A WATER RESTRICTIONS were

Melbourne will remain on Stage 3a water restrictions until 30 November  2008, Water Minister Tim Holding announced today.

Under Stage 3a water restrictions:

• A manual dripper system, hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, a watering can and a bucket can be used to water gardens as required on specified watering days between 6am - 8am.*
• An automatic dripper system can be used to water as required on specific watering days between midnight - 2am.*
• Cars can be washed at a commercial car wash. A bucket filled from a tap can be used to clean windows, mirrors and lights; and spot-remove corrosive substances.
• One in four sports grounds can be watered. Councils must complete a water conservation plan and ensure water use on these sports grounds is cut back by an additional 25 per cent.
• Even numbered properties can water on Saturday and Tuesday; odd numbered can water on Sunday and Wednesday.

People aged 70 and over can water between 8am and 10am.

More details about the Stage 3a water restrictions are available at Our Water

Stage 3A Water Restrictions:

Melbourne Water

Important:

Stage 3a is the second phase of Stage 3 water restrictions and has been introduced due to low rainfall over summer and below average stream flows.

Stage 3a helps to save water while minimising the impact on businesses and community sporting facilities.

Questions and Answers:

Fact sheet (PDF 253kb)

Ideas to Save Water:

Fact sheet (PDF 80kb)

Rainwater Tank Rebates:

Fact sheet (PDF 60kb)

Water restrictions information in ten community languages

Other Details:

In addition to the permanent water saving rules introduced across Victoria in 2005, there are four stages of water restrictions.

Restriction stages are triggered when the amount of water in our storages falls to certain levels. These trigger points vary according to the time of the year - the trigger points (PDF, 29.8 kb) are higher in summer when demand is higher.

The decision to lift or introduce water saving rules and restrictions is made by the Victorian Government based on information it receives from Melbourne Water and the retail water companies, City West Water , South East Water or Yarra Valley Water .

The status of water restrictions is reviewed monthly. Weather forecasts, water consumption, seasonal factors, and rainfall in catchments are all taken into consideration. As extremely dry conditions persist, it is important that we continue to save water and conserve our precious drinking water supplies.