Residential or commercial gardens and lawns cannot be watered at any time.
Public gardens, lawns and playing surfaces cannot be watered at any time. We consider exemptions for council nominated priority green spaces.
Water cannot be used to fill or top up a fountain or water feature at any time.
You cannot hose down hard surfaces including driveways, paths, concrete, tiles, timber decking and other paved areas, except where cleaning is required as a result of an accident, fire, health hazard, safety hazard or other emergency.
You can use a high-pressure cleaning unit, or if such a unit is not available, a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, or a bucket in the course of construction or renovation.
You can wash the windows, mirrors, lights, registration plates and for spot removing corrosive substances off your car, boat or other vehicle at home using a bucket or watering can; or, at a commercial car wash, and only where cleaning is required for health and safety reasons, safety hazard or other emergency.
Councils and schools cannot water sporting grounds and gardens at anytime. We consider exemptions for council nominated priority green spaces.
Filling
A new or existing pool or spa of any capacity cannot be filled.
Topping up
New or existing pools or spas can only be topped up using a bucket or watering can.
A mobile spa can only be filled or topped up in accordance with a Water Use Plan.
Water toys
A water toy connected to a hose cannot be used at any time.
DAM OR TANK
A dam or tank must not be filled or topped up, except:
- With the written permission of North East Water; or
- In the case of a dam or tank providing water for firefighting, public health or stock, only to the extent which, in the opinion of North East Water is reasonably necessary to provide for those purposes.
WATER TANKER
A water tanker must not be filled or topped up, unless:
- North East Water has granted a mobile water tanker permit to the operator of that tanker; and
- The tanker is supplying water to be used inside a dwelling or for fire, fighting, stock watering, construction, or public health purposes.
COMMERCIAL MARKET GARDEN OR COMMERCIAL OR COUNCIL PLANT NURSERY
Water must not be used for watering any garden, plant stock, seeds or produce, except:
- If written permission of North East Water is obtained, by:
- An automatic or manual watering system used only as required for up to two hours per day; and
- In accordance with, and while displaying any signs required by, that written permission; or
- By hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, or a watering can or bucket filled either by a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, or directly from the tap, at any time.
COMMERCIAL CAR WASH
A commercial car wash must not use water to clean any part of a vehicle other than its windows, mirrors and lights, and for spot removing corrosive substances, and then only with a bucket filled directly from a tap (and not by means of a
hose).
MOTOR VEHICLE DEALER
Water must not be used to clean any part of a vehicle in a motor vehicle dealership other than its windows, mirrors and lights, and for spot removing corrosive substances, and then only by means of a bucket filled directly from a tap (and not by means of a hose).
FOOD TRANSPORT VEHICLE
Water must not be used to clean inside a food transport vehicle except by means of:
- A high pressure water cleaning device; or
- A hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, and only if such cleaning is necessary, either to avoid contamination of the vehicle's contents or to ensure public safety.
BOAT MOTORS
Water must not be used to flush the inboard or outboard motor of a vessel
unless:
- A suitable receptacle filled by a hand-held hose is used or;
- A flushing device, connected to a hose is used, and the tap is turned off immediately after flushing is complete.
BUILDING FACADE (INCLUDING WINDOWS)
Water must not be used to clean a building facade unless cleaning is required as a result of:
- An accident, fire, health hazard, safety hazard or other emergency, and either:
- A bucket, filled either by a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, or directly from a tap is used; or
- A hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle is used.
DUST SUPPRESSION
Water must not be used to suppress dust, unless dust is causing a health or environmental hazard; and then only by means of:
- A water tanker permitted in accordance with the Water Tanker section of these rules; or
- A hand-held hose, fitted with a trigger nozzle, or by a watering can, filled either by a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, or directly from a tap.
CONSTRUCTION
Water must not be used in construction except:
- By means of a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, or by a bucket or other container, filled either by a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, or directly from a tap; or
- By construction equipment which requires a water supply for its safe and efficient operation.
ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
Water must not be used for animal husbandry except for:
- Drinking by animals or birds;
- Cleaning of animals or birds;
- Cleaning pens, yards and cages, and then only if cleaning is done by means of a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle.
COMMERCIAL POULTRY FARM
Water must not be used for cooling a shed on a commercial poultry farm except by means of:
- Sprinklers used only for cooling and then only when the inside temperature reaches 30 deg C and between the hours of 6am and 9pm; and
- Fogging systems and cooling pads, which may be used at any time.