Permanent Water Saving Plan (residential)

The Permanent Water Saving Plan is a set of common sense rules that apply every day of the year to conserve water now and for the future. 

The Permanent Water Saving Plan has changed

We have made some changes to the Permanent Water Saving Plan.

The changes are designed to make the plan easier to understand, establish more consistency across Victoria, and lock in water saving behavior adopted during the drought.

The main changes include:

  • Watering systems can now be used 6 pm — 10 am. This is an extension to the previous watering times of 8 pm — 10 am. Different rules for manual and automatic watering systems have been removed.
  • An application is no longer required to fill new pools or spas.
  • Hand held hoses must now be leak free.

Image shows Youth and Environment Ambassador, Kelly Cartwright, with a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle pointed at a raised garden bed containing native Australian plants.

Under the Permanent Water Saving Plan, a hose must be fitted with a trigger nozzle. You can use a trigger nozzle on your garden, lawn or car at any time on any day.

 

The Permanent Water Saving Plan now applies in:

  • Aireys Inlet
  • Alvie
  • Anakie
  • Anglesea
  • Bannockburn
  • Barwon Heads
  • Batesford
  • Beeac 
  • Bell Park
  • Bell Post Hill
  • Bellarine
  • Belmont
  • Birregurra
  • Breakwater
  • Breamlea
  • Clifton Springs
  • Colac
  • Cororooke 
  • Connewarre
  • Corio
  • Cressy 
  • Curlewis
  • Drysdale
  • East Geelong
  • Elliminyt 
  • Forrest
  • Fairhaven
  • Fyansford
  • Geelong
  • Gellibrand
  • Gheringhap
  • Grovedale
  • Hamlyn Heights
  • Herne Hill
  • Highton
  • Indented Head
  • Inverleigh
  • Irrewarra 
  • Jan Juc
  • Lara
  • Leopold
  • Lethbridge
  • Little River
  • Lorne 
  • Lovely Banks
  • Mannerim
  • Marcus Hill
  • Marshall
  • Meredith
  • Moolap
  • Moriac
  • Mount Duneed
  • Newcomb
  • Newtown
  • Norlane
  • North Geelong
  • North Shore
  • Ocean Grove
  • Ondit 
  • Point Lonsdale
  • Portarlington
  • Queenscliff
  • Shelford
  • South Geelong
  • St Albans Park
  • St Leonards
  • Teesdale
  • Torquay
  • Wallington
  • Waurn Ponds
  • West Geelong
  • Whittington
  • Winchelsea
  • Warrion 

Apollo Bay, Skenes Creek and Marengo are currently subject to Stage 2 water restrictions. The Permanent Water Saving plan does not apply in these towns.

  Stage 2 water restrictions: Apollo Bay, Skenes Creek and Marengo

 

The Permanent Water Saving Plan applies to residents supplied with drinking water. The rules don't apply to greywater, tank water, bore water or recycled water.

 

Hand-held hoses

All hand-held hoses must be fitted with trigger nozzles and be free of leaks.

 

Gardens and lawns

You can water your garden and lawn with a hand-held hose (fitted with a trigger nozzle), watering can, or bucket at any time on any day.

You can also use a watering system 6 pm — 10 am, any day.

 

Fountains and water features

Fountains and water features can be used, provided they recirculate water.

 

Paved areas and hard surfaces

You may use water to clean driveways, paths, timber decking, concrete or other hard surfaces, only:

  • if required as a result of an accident or fire
  • there is a health or safety hazard
  • if staining has developed (once a year)
  • during construction or renovation.

Use a high-pressure water cleaner if available. Otherwise, a hand-held hose or bucket may be used.

  


 

More information

For more information about what you can and can not do under the Permanent Water Saving Plan, refer to our frequently asked questions (FAQs).

  Permanent Water Saving Plan: FAQs for residential customers

 

 


 

 

Penalties

The Permanent Water Saving Plan measures are enforced under the Water Act. Penalties apply for breaches.

The current infringement amount is one penalty unit ($122).

Continued or severe breaches may result in fines of more than $3000.