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. 

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 across our entire service region, including:

  • Aireys Inlet
  • Alvie
  • Anakie
  • Anglesea
  • Apollo Bay
  • 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
  • Marengo
  • Marshall
  • Meredith
  • Moolap
  • Moriac
  • Mount Duneed
  • Newcomb
  • Newtown
  • Norlane
  • North Geelong
  • North Shore
  • Ocean Grove
  • Ondit 
  • Point Lonsdale
  • Portarlington
  • Queenscliff
  • Shelford
  • Skenes Creek 
  • South Geelong
  • St Albans Park
  • St Leonards
  • Teesdale
  • Torquay
  • Wallington
  • Waurn Ponds
  • West Geelong
  • Whittington
  • Winchelsea
  • Warrion 

The Permanent Water Saving Plan applies to residents supplied with drinking water.

The rules do not 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.