Water restrictions for everyone
Rainwater tanksFines for not complyingCarting waterFAQs
Business water restrictions
There are currently no water restrictions. But please be mindful of your water use and meet Target 160.
Download the water restrictions table(PDF, 283KB) for a print-ready version of all water restrictions across each level.
In limited circumstances, Council may grant exemptions from water restrictions, usually for a specific action at a specific time. Apply online.
During water restrictions, washing down hard surfaces such as windows, walls, pathways, paved areas and driveways with a hose is banned and requesting a permit for hosing down hard surfaces purely for appearance will be declined.
Level 1 - When dam falls below 85% capacity
Save water now to meet Target 150 litres per person a day.
We must all stop wasting water by following these rules and Council’s general advice on how to save water indoors and outdoors.
Owners of rainwater tanks connected to town water or refilled by water delivery from a town water supply must follow all water restrictions.
There are fines for not complying. Council may contact you if you use too much water (>1500 litres a day for a property) and may ban you from using water outdoors if we deem it necessary.
Try to install at least 3-star WELS-rated showerheads, taps and toilets. Council offers a
one-off rebate of up to $100 for installing 3-star WELS-rated showerheads or 4-star WELS-rated tapware.
Buildings and surrounds
You cannot
- Enter into a new commercial contract – new cleaning contracts for health/safety or to sell/lease property permitted
You can
- Wash external walls, roofs, windows, driveways, paved areas, paths
With high-pressure low-flow cleaner with trigger control
- Wash paved kitchen and dining areas – for health/safety reasons only
- Clean internal carpets, tiles, vinyl
With water-efficient equipment
- Use commercial cleaner if contract in place before restrictions introduced
Gardens, lawns and parks
You cannot
- Water established lawns, natural grassed areas, open spaces, parks, reserves
- Use an outdoor shower – beach showers permitted
- Top-up garden features including fish/frog ponds, decorative ponds, fountains – except to keep fish/frogs alive (use handheld hose with trigger control, before 9 am or after 4 pm)
You can
- Water private gardens
With handheld hose with trigger control, 30 minutes only, every second day (odd/even system*) before 9 am or after 4 pm – never leave hose unattended and no sprinklers, soaker hoses, micro sprays, drip irrigation
- Water new gardens/plantings at businesses, accommodation providers, Council-maintained – average-sized or one watering zone of large garden
With sprinkler or handheld hose with trigger control, 30 minutes only, at most 3 times a week, 5–7 am or 5–7 pm
- Lay new turf/seed new lawn and water-in if contract to buy turf/seed in place before restrictions introduced
With handheld hose with trigger control, before 9 am or after 4 pm on day laid/sown, then 5 minutes twice a day for next 7 days, then 5 minutes once a day for next 14 days (21 days total)
* Odd/even watering days correspond to property numbers - odd property numbers permitted on each odd date of the month and vice versa. No watering on 31st of the month.
Spear pumps – Council asks you not to use, must display ‘spear pump in use’ sign at front of property readable from the road, must use according to your bore licence
Pets - dogs and horses
You can
- Wash dogs
With bucket (no hoses), or use fixed premises/mobile dog washer
- Wash horses - after riding
With handheld hose with trigger control, 2 minutes only
- Wash pet pens and cages
With high-pressure low-flow cleaner
Public amenities
You cannot
- Use boat ramp taps – Council will turn off
You can
- Use drinking fountains and bubblers
- Use beach showers
- Use taps at fish cleaning tables
- Use public toilets
Sport and recreation
You cannot
- Water golf fairways, cricket grounds
- Water spectator/off-field areas of sports fields, tennis courts, cricket grounds
You can
- Water bowling and golf greens
With sprinkler or handheld hose with trigger control, 45 minutes only, 3 times a week 5–7 am or 5–7 pm
- Water cricket pitches and play areas of sports fields, tennis courts
With sprinkler or handheld hose with trigger control, 30 minutes only, 3 times a week 5–7 am or 5–7 pm
Swimming pools / spas
You cannot
- Refill pool/spa from empty
You can
- Top up existing pools/spas
With handheld hose with trigger control, before 9 am or after 4 pm, use pool cover
Businesses (such as accommodation providers, hotels, aquatic centres) must also log water use
- Fill new pools/spas with Council approval
- Top up Council pools
Must log water use
Vehicles and equipment
You cannot
- Dealers – wash vehicles being serviced
You can
- Wash beach vehicles, including surf club/Council Ranger buggies, 4WDs
With high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner with trigger control, or handheld hose with trigger control, 2 minutes only per vehicle
- Wash private vehicles
Self-wash with high-pressure low-flow cleaner with trigger control, 5 minutes only, once a week, or with bucket any time, or use fixed-premises/mobile car washer
- Wash fleet vehicles, plant, equipment
With high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner with trigger control, or bucket
- Dealers – wash vehicles sold and due for collection
With high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner with trigger control, must log water use
- Dealers – wash vehicles on display
With high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner with trigger control, every second day (odd/even system*), between 6 and 8 am, must log water use
- Wash trucks/heavy vehicles – to meet licencing requirements
With high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner with trigger control, must log water use, consider removing dust with air pressure not water
- Wash buses, food transport, Emergency Services vehicles – to meet licencing or health/safety requirements
With high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner with trigger control, must log water use
- Wash taxis, hire cars
With high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner with trigger control, 3 times a week, must log water use, can use bucket any time for health/safety reasons
* Odd/even watering days correspond to property numbers - odd property numbers permitted on each odd date of the month and vice versa. No watering on 31st of the month.
Vessels and equipment
You can
- Wash boats, boat trailers, kayaks, surf and marine rescue vessels, water rescue equipment – after use in salt water
At home with high-pressure low-flow cleaner with trigger control, 2 minutes only, or with bucket any time
- Flush boat motors – after use in salt water
At home with handheld hose with trigger control, 2 minutes only
Water play
You cannot
- Use water play toys and slides
- Have water ‘fights’
Level 2 - When dam falls below 75% capacity
Save water now to meet Target 140 litres per person a day.
We must all stop wasting water by following these rules and Council’s general advice on how to save water indoors and outdoors.
Owners of rainwater tanks connected to town water or refilled by water delivery from a town water supply must follow all water restrictions.
There are fines for not complying. Council may contact you if you use too much water (>1500 litres a day for a property) and may ban you from using water outdoors if we deem it necessary.
Try to install at least 3-star WELS-rated showerheads, taps and toilets. Council offers a
one-off rebate of up to $100 for installing 3-star WELS-rated showerheads or 4-star WELS-rated tapware.
Buildings and surrounds
You cannot
- Enter into a new commercial contract – new cleaning contracts for health/safety or to sell/lease property permitted
You can
- Wash external walls, roofs, windows, driveways, paved areas, paths
With high-pressure low-flow cleaner with trigger control
- Wash paved kitchen and dining areas – for health/safety reasons only
- Clean internal carpets, tiles, vinyl
With water-efficient equipment
- Use commercial cleaner if contract in place before restrictions introduced
Gardens, lawns and parks
You cannot
- Water established lawns, natural grassed areas, open spaces, parks, reserves
- Use an outdoor shower
- Top-up garden features including fish/frog ponds, decorative ponds, fountains – except to keep fish/frogs alive (use handheld hose with trigger control, before 9 am or after 4 pm)
You can
- Water private gardens
With handheld hose with trigger control, 15 minutes only, every second day (odd/even system*) before 9 am or after 4 pm – never leave hose unattended and no sprinklers, soaker hoses, micro sprays, drip irrigation
- Water new gardens/plantings at businesses, accommodation providers, Council-maintained – average-sized or one watering zone of large garden
With sprinkler or handheld hose with trigger control, 15 minutes only, at most 3 times a week, 5–7 am or 5–7 pm
- Lay new turf/seed new lawn and water-in if contract to buy turf/seed in place before restrictions introduced
With handheld hose with trigger control, before 9 am or after 4 pm on day laid/sown, then 5 minutes twice a day for next 7 days, then 5 minutes once a day for next 14 days (21 days total)
* Odd/even watering days correspond to property numbers - odd property numbers permitted on each odd date of the month and vice versa. No watering on 31st of the month.
Spear pumps – Council asks you not to use, must display ‘spear pump in use’ sign at front of property readable from the road, must use according to your bore licence
Pets - dogs and horses
You can
- Wash dogs
With bucket (no hoses), or use fixed premises/mobile dog washer
- Wash horses - after riding
With handheld hose with trigger control, 2 minutes only
- Wash pet pens and cages
With high-pressure low-flow cleaner
Public amenities
You cannot
- Use boat ramp taps – Council will turn off
- Use beach showers - Council will turn off
You can
- Use drinking fountains and bubblers
- Use taps at fish cleaning tables - Council can turn off if misused
- Use public toilets
Sport and recreation
You cannot
- Water golf fairways, cricket grounds
- Water spectator/off-field areas of sports fields, tennis courts, cricket grounds
You can
- Water bowling and golf greens
With sprinkler or handheld hose with trigger control, 45 minutes only, 2 times a week 5–7 am or 5–7 pm
- Water cricket pitches and play areas of sports fields, tennis courts
With sprinkler or handheld hose with trigger control, 30 minutes only, 2 times a week 5–7 am or 5–7 pm
Swimming pools / spas
You cannot
- Refill pool/spa from empty
You can
- Top up existing pools/spas
With handheld hose with trigger control, before 9 am or after 4 pm, use pool cover
Businesses (such as accommodation providers, hotels, aquatic centres) must also log water use
- Fill new pools/spas with Council approval
- Top up Council pools
Must log water use
Vehicles and equipment
You cannot
- Dealers – wash vehicles being serviced
You can
- Wash beach vehicles, including surf club/Council Ranger buggies, 4WDs
With high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner with trigger control, or handheld hose with trigger control, 2 minutes only per vehicle
- Wash private vehicles
Self-wash with high-pressure low-flow cleaner with trigger control, 5 minutes only, once every 2 weeks, or with bucket any time, or use fixed-premises/mobile car washer
- Wash fleet vehicles, plant, equipment
With high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner with trigger control, or bucket
- Dealers – wash vehicles sold and due for collection
With high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner with trigger control, must log water use
- Dealers – wash vehicles on display
With high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner with trigger control, every second day (odd/even system*), between 6 and 8 am, must log water use
- Wash trucks/heavy vehicles – to meet licencing requirements
With high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner with trigger control, must log water use, consider removing dust with air pressure not water
- Wash buses, food transport, Emergency Services vehicles – to meet licencing or health/safety requirements
With high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner with trigger control, must log water use
- Wash taxis, hire cars
With high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner with trigger control, 2 times a week, must log water use, can use bucket any time for health/safety reasons
* Odd/even watering days correspond to property numbers - odd property numbers permitted on each odd date of the month and vice versa. No watering on 31st of the month.
Vessels and equipment
You can
- Wash boats, boat trailers, kayaks, surf and marine rescue vessels, water rescue equipment – after use in salt water
At home with high-pressure low-flow cleaner with trigger control, 2 minutes only, or with bucket any time
- Flush boat motors – after use in salt water
At home with handheld hose with trigger control, 2 minutes only
Water play
You cannot
- Use water play toys and slides
- Have water ‘fights’
Level 3 - When dam falls below 65% capacity
Save water now to meet Target 130 litres per person a day.
We must all stop wasting water by following these rules and Council’s general advice on how to save water indoors and outdoors.
Owners of rainwater tanks connected to town water or refilled by water delivery from a town water supply must follow all water restrictions.
There are fines for not complying. Council may contact you if you use too much water (>1500 litres a day for a property) and may ban you from using water outdoors if we deem it necessary.
Try to install at least 3-star WELS-rated showerheads, taps and toilets. Council offers a
one-off rebate of up to $100 for installing 3-star WELS-rated showerheads or 4-star WELS-rated tapware.
Buildings and surrounds
You cannot
- Enter into a new commercial contract – new cleaning contracts for health/safety or to sell/lease property permitted
- Self-wash external walls, roofs, windows, driveways, paved areas, paths
- Self-wash paved kitchen and dining areas
- Self-clean internal carpets, tiles, vinyl
You can
- Use commercial cleaner if contract in place before restrictions introduced
Gardens, lawns and parks
You cannot
- Water established lawns, natural grassed areas, open spaces, parks, reserves
- Use an outdoor shower
- Top-up garden features including fish/frog ponds, decorative ponds, fountains – except to keep fish/frogs alive (use handheld hose with trigger control, before 9 am or after 4 pm)
- Lay new turf/seed new lawn
- Water gardens at businesses/accommodation providers, Council-maintained
You can
- Water private gardens
With handheld hose with trigger control, 5 minutes only, every second day (odd/even system*) before 9 am or after 4 pm – never leave hose unattended and no sprinklers, soaker hoses, micro sprays, drip irrigation
- Water-in turf/seed up to one week old
With handheld hose with trigger control, 5 minutes once a day for 14 days (21 days in total) before 9 am or after 4 pm
* Odd/even watering days correspond to property numbers - odd property numbers permitted on each odd date of the month and vice versa. No watering on 31st of the month.
Spear pumps – Council asks you not to use, must display ‘spear pump in use’ sign at front of property readable from the road, must use according to your bore licence
Pets - dogs and horses
You can
- Wash dogs
With bucket (no hoses), or use fixed premises/mobile dog washer
- Wash horses - after riding
With handheld hose with trigger control, 2 minutes only
- Wash pet pens and cages
With high-pressure low-flow cleaner
Public amenities
You cannot
- Use boat ramp taps – Council will turn off
- Use beach showers - Council will turn off
- Use taps at fish cleaning tables - Council will turn off
You can
- Use drinking fountains and bubblers
- Use public toilets
Sport and recreation
You cannot
- Water golf fairways, cricket grounds
- Water spectator/off-field areas of sports fields, tennis courts, cricket grounds
You can
- Water bowling and golf greens
With sprinkler or handheld hose with trigger control, 45 minutes only, once a week 5–7 am or 5–7 pm
- Water cricket pitches and play areas of sports fields, tennis courts
With sprinkler or handheld hose with trigger control, 30 minutes only, once week 5–7 am or 5–7 pm
Swimming pools / spas
You cannot
- Refill pool/spa from empty
- Top-up pool/spa
You can
- Maintain enough water to stop pool/spa popping out of ground or cracking, use pool cover
New pools/spas must gain Council approval first
- Top up Council pools. Must log water use
Vehicles and equipment
You cannot
- Dealers – wash vehicles being serviced
You can
- Wash beach vehicles, including surf club/Council Ranger buggies, 4WDs
With high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner/handheld hose with trigger control, 2 minutes only per vehicle
- Wash private vehicles
With commercial fixed-premises/mobile car washer, can use bucket to self-wash elements required for safe operation (windscreens, mirrors, lights)
- Wash fleet vehicles, plant, equipment - only those elements required for safe operation
With high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner with trigger control, or bucket
- Dealers – wash vehicles sold and due for collection
With high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner with trigger control, must log water use
- Dealers – wash vehicles on display
With high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner with trigger control, every second day (odd/even system*), between 6 and 8 am, must log water use
- Wash trucks/heavy vehicles – to meet licencing requirements
With high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner with trigger control, must log water use, consider removing dust with air pressure not water
- Wash buses, food transport, Emergency Services vehicles – to meet licencing or health/safety requirements with high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner with trigger control, must log water use
- Wash taxis, hire cars
With high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner with trigger control, once a week, must log water use, can use bucket any time for health/safety reasons
* Odd/even watering days correspond to property numbers - odd property numbers permitted on each odd date of the month and vice versa. No watering on 31st of the month.
Vessels and equipment
You can
- Wash boats, boat trailers, kayaks, surf and marine rescue vessels, water rescue equipment – only those elements required for safe operation, after use in salt water
Must use bucket
- Flush boat motors – after use in salt water
At home with handheld hose with trigger control, 2 minutes only
Water play
You cannot
- Use water play toys and slides
- Have water ‘fights’
Level 4 - When dam falls below 55% capacity
Save water now to meet Target 120 litres per person a day.
We must all stop wasting water by following these rules and Council’s general advice on how to save water indoors and outdoors.
Owners of rainwater tanks connected to town water or refilled by water delivery from a town water supply must follow all water restrictions.
There are fines for not complying. Council may contact you if you use too much water (>1500 litres a day for a property) and may ban you from using water outdoors if we deem it necessary.
Try to install at least 3-star WELS-rated showerheads, taps and toilets. Council offers a
one-off rebate of up to $100 for installing 3-star WELS-rated showerheads or 4-star WELS-rated tapware.
Buildings and surrounds
You cannot
- Wash external walls, roofs, windows, driveways, paved areas, paths, paved kitchen/dining areas, and internal carpets, tiles, vinyl – except for health/safety reasons (must hire registered cleaning business)
Gardens, lawns and parks
You cannot
- Water established lawns, natural grassed areas, open spaces, parks, reserves
- Use an outdoor shower
- Top-up garden features including fish/frog ponds, decorative ponds, fountains – except to keep fish/frogs alive (use hand-held hose with trigger control, before 9 am or after 4 pm)
- Lay new turf/seed new lawn
- Water gardens at businesses/accommodation providers, Council-maintained
- Water private gardens using town water – greywater permitted within NSW Health guidelines
Spear pumps – Council asks you not to use, must display ‘spear pump in use’ sign at front of property readable from the road, must use according to your bore licence
Pets - dogs and horses
You can
- Wash dogs
With bucket (no hoses), no fixed premises/mobile dog washers
- Wash horses - after riding
With handheld hose with trigger control, 2 minutes only
- Wash pet pens and cages
With high-pressure low-flow cleaner
Public amenities
You cannot
- Use boat ramp taps – Council will turn off
- Use beach showers - Council will turn off
- Use taps at fish cleaning tables - Council will turn off
You can
- Use drinking fountains and bubblers
- Use public toilets
Sport and recreation
You cannot
- Water golf fairways, cricket grounds
- Water bowling greens
- Water sports fields, tennis courts, cricket pitches/grounds – play and spectator/off-field areas
Swimming pools / spas
You cannot
- Refill pool/spa from empty
- Top-up pool/spa
- Use Council pools - Council will close
You can
- Maintain enough water to stop pool/spa popping out of ground or cracking
New pools/spas must gain Council approval first, use pool cover
Vehicles and equipment
You cannot
- Dealers – wash any vehicle – except for health/safety reasons
Must use bucket
- Wash taxis, hire cars – except for health/safety reasons
Must use bucket
You can
- Wash beach vehicles, including surf club/Council Ranger buggies, 4WDs
With high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner with trigger control, or handheld hose with trigger control, 2 minutes only per vehicle
- Wash private vehicles
With commercial fixed-premises car washer (no mobile operators), can use bucket to self-wash for health/safety reasons only
- Wash fleet vehicles, plant, equipment – only those elements required for safe operation
With high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner with trigger control, or bucket
- Wash trucks/heavy vehicles – to meet licencing requirements
With high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner with trigger control, must log water use, consider removing dust with air pressure not water
- Wash buses, food transport, Emergency Services vehicles – to meet licencing or health/safety requirements
With high-pressure, low-flow rate cleaner with trigger control, must log water use
Vessels and equipment
You cannot
- Wash boats, boat trailers, kayaks, surf and marine rescue vessels, water rescue equipment
You can
- Flush boat motors – after use in salt water
With hand-held hose with trigger control, 2 minutes only
Water play
You cannot
- Use water play toys and slides
- Have water ‘fights’
Emergency level - When dam falls below 45% capacity
Emergency level water restrictions will be developed, limiting water use to 100 litres per person a day, for essential use only. This is a reduction of 60 litres a day.
Fines for not complying with water restrictions
Failing to follow water restrictions may result in a $2,200 fine.
- If your property uses more than 1500 litres a day, Council may ban you from using water outdoors if necessary.
- Repeated misuse of water may result in the water service being restricted and in extreme cases, disconnected.
Report a breach
Rainwater tanks
Having a rainwater tank does not exempt you from water restrictions.
- Water restrictions apply for properties with rainwater tanks connected to town supply (nearly all rainwater tanks in urban areas).
- Water restrictions apply for properties with rainwater tanks topped up by water carters.
Find out more about rainwater tanks.
Carting water
Carting water from the Tyalgum and Uki water supplies is always banned.
When water restrictions are introduced, water carters can only cart water from the Bray Park supply to properties within the Tweed Shire.
To buy water from Council you need to buy it from one of the drinking water carters(PDF, 48KB) licensed to operate in the Tweed.
Water purchased from Council is subject to the water restriction guidelines and targets.
Frequently asked questions
What difference can one person make?
A lot. Your actions will inspire others to save water.
If 50,000 people in the Tweed make a commitment to save 10 litres of water a day, we could save half a million litres of water a day! That's more than 1100 bathtubs worth of water a day.
What are the best ways to save water?
5 ways to save water indoors
- Keep showers to 4 minutes - save 20 litres/minute
- Do full loads of washing - save 80 litres
- Only use the toilet’s half flush - save 10 litres/day
- Don’t leave taps running - save 2 litres/day
- Check for leaks on taps and toilets - save 1.3 litres/hour
There are more tips at tweed.nsw.gov.au/save-water-indoors.
5 ways to save water outdoors
- Clean hard surfaces with a broom - save 20 litres/minute
- Use a pool cover
- Always mulch your garden
- Choose drought-resistant plants
- Install a rainwater tank
More tips at tweed.nsw.gov.au/save-water-outdoors.
Why have water restrictions?
We introduce restrictions when the demand for water is greater than the actual or anticipated supply. This happens mostly in drought, however other circumstances can also trigger restrictions.
We need restrictions to make sure our:
- limited water supply lasts as long as possible
- community always has water
- community understands the water-use rules at each level of restriction.
When are water restrictions introduced and eased?
Under Council’s Drought and Water Restrictions Policy, water restrictions are:
- introduced when the Clarrie Hall Dam level falls below 85%
- eased once the dam level has risen 10 to 20% higher than the level when the restriction was introduced.
Like Uki, Tyalgum has its own water supply. Council may introduce and lift restrictions specifically for Uki and Tyalgum.
We introduce and lift restrictions as quickly as possible, depending on:
- the water level at Clarrie Hall Dam (or for Tyalgum, at the Tyalgum weir pool)
- rainfall patterns
- our combined water use history.
How long would our water supply last without restrictions?
At most, our water supply would last a maximum of 12 months if:
- we enter a drought
- Clarrie Hall Dam is full
- each of us is already using 160 litres of water a day – yet in the past 5 years, our water use has been higher, at around 185 litres per person a day.
Are water restrictions only introduced when we head into drought?
No. Other events may trigger restrictions:
- saltwater contamination of our water supply
- poor quality of river water
- contamination from events including floods
- treatment plant failure
- major asset failure
- power supply failure
- ·need to cart water from other parts of the Tweed’s water supply
- NSW Government Water Sharing Plan restrictions.
What is Council doing to make sure we don’t run out of water?
Council is responsible for the Tweed’s water security and has developed and amended its Drought and Water Restrictions Policy.
This policy includes triggers for activating drought response actions that aim to manage the water supply and demand to minimise the chance of running out of water.
The biggest change since the 2002-03 drought are plans to raise the wall of Clarrie Hall Dam to increase its capacity. The project will secure water for the Tweed’s growing population until 2065.
If the project achieves Ministerial and Council approval, construction to raise the dam wall is on track to start by 2026, with completion in 2028.
We’ve also been working on other water security measures.
- In 2020, Council banned water carting from Tyalgum and Uki.
- Whenever water restrictions are triggered, Council bans water carting from other parts of the Tweed to other local government areas.
My neighbour's lawn is very green, what should I do?
Watering lawns is banned under water restrictions if you are on town water or have a rainwater tank. Your neighbour may be watering their lawn using a spear pump or bore supply, which is allowed.
If you are unsure of whether your neighbour has a spear pump or bore supply, please contact us and an officer will visit your neighbour for a friendly chat as they may not be aware they are doing the wrong thing.
Are there fines for not complying with water restrictions?
Yes. Failing to follow water restrictions may result in a $2,200 fine.
If your property uses more than 1500 litres a day, Council may ban you from using water outdoors if necessary.
Repeated misuse of water may result in the water service being restricted and in extreme cases, disconnected.
To report any breach of water restrictions, complete the online form.
Who can issue fines?
Any Council officer can be authorised to issue a fine under the Local Government Act.
Council has authorised a number of its Water and Wastewater officers. Council Rangers also can issue fines for non-compliance to water restrictions.
First up, Council will speak to residents who fail to comply with restrictions but if they continue to breach the rules they will be fined.
I have a rainwater tank. Do water restrictions apply to me?
Having a rainwater tank does not exempt you from water restrictions.
Water restrictions apply for properties with rainwater tanks connected to town supply (nearly all rainwater tanks in urban areas).
Water restrictions apply for properties with rainwater tanks topped up by water carters.
Find out more about rainwater tanks.
Is there any restriction on the use of bore water?
No. Council's water restrictions apply to the reticulated water supply only. However Council asks you not to use bore water when water restrictions are triggered – it divides the community into the water haves and have-nots.
The use of bore water is regulated by the Department of Planning and Environment. The department has not imposed any restrictions on the use of bore water but may in the future.
Anyone using bore water is required to display a sign at the front of your property, easily seen from the road.
What about water carting?
Carting water from the Tyalgum and Uki water supplies is always banned.
When water restrictions are introduced, water carters can only cart water from the Bray Park supply to properties within the Tweed Shire.
To buy water from Council you need to buy it from one of the drinking water carters licensed to operate in the Tweed.
Water purchased from Council is subject to the water restriction guidelines and targets.
Do water restrictions apply to businesses?
Yes. Businesses that use water as a key input will be affected by water restrictions and must comply with those restrictions.
Any business that feels it is unduly affected can contact Council to discuss their situation. Council may issue a permit to continue operating, with conditions, if warranted.
View business water restrictions.
What about businesses that use lots of water?
If a business uses more than 50,000 litres a day, they must have a Council-approved water efficiency management plan to operate. If they use less than 25,000 litres a day, Council may audit their water use.
They may need to install sub-meters on equipment that uses significant water.
What will Council do with the revenue raised from enforcing water restrictions?
Any income from water restrictions enforcement will be allocated to general reserve or used to fund vital water security infrastructure.
Is financial assistance available to residents who need to buy water?
Council is not aware of any Government subsidies that specifically relate to the transport of drinking water to rural properties, other than existing assistance to farmers. Council is considering how it can help residents who are reliant on tank water and can’t afford to buy water.
These websites provide some guidance:
Is Council monitoring fill-up points for water carters wasting water?
Council has authorised water extraction points where water tankers are permitted to fill up. The filling locations minimise the travelling time for the tankers to the rural areas, minimising costs to rural residents needing a water delivery.
Council will contact all water carters to remind them not to waste water and that poor and lazy practices on their part will not be accepted by the Council or the community.
Anyone who receives water from a water carter is required to follow the water restrictions that apply to everyone.
