Business water restrictions

There are currently no water restrictions in place across the MidCoast region.

Refer to the section relevant to your business to find out what you can and can't do during each level of water restrictions.

Businesses should consider completing a Water Efficiency Management Plan and submitting it to us as soon as water restrictions are introduced. An approved Water Efficiency Management Plan is required for a business to apply for an exemption.

Boat motor flushing

These restrictions apply to commercial boats and boats used by rescue organisations.


Moderate (Level 1)

  • Boat motors may be flushed for up to five minutes, on grass or a porous surface where possible


High (Level 2)

  • Boat motors may be flushed for up to five minutes on grass only


Very high (Level 3)

  • Boat motors may be flushed for up to five minutes on grass only


Severe (Level 4)

  • Boat motors may be flushed for a maximum of three minutes on grass only
  • Businesses and organisations must complete a Water Restrictions Exemption Form and have an approved Water Efficiency Management Plan
  • Use a container to recycle the flushing water


Emergency (Level 5)

  • Boat motors may be flushed for a maximum of three minutes on grass only
  • Businesses and organisations must complete a Water Restrictions Exemption Form and have an approved Water Efficiency Management Plan
  • Use a container to recycle the flushing water

Commercial/industrial indoor use

Moderate (Level 1)

  •  Indoor water use is permitted at all times


High (Level 2)

  • Indoor water use is permitted at all times


Very high (Level 3)

  • Indoor water use is permitted at all times


Severe (Level 4)

  • A Water Efficiency Management Plan must be submitted to us for approval


Emergency (Level 5)

  • A Water Efficiency Management Plan must be submitted to us for approval.

Commercial/industrial production water

Moderate (Level 1)

  • There are no restrictions on using water for production purposes


High (Level 2)

  • Water is to be used only for essential production


Very high (Level 3)

  • Water is to be used only for essential production


Severe (Level 4)

  • An approved Water Efficiency Management Plan and Water Restrictions Exemption Form is required to continue using water for essential production purposes


Emergency (Level 5)

  • An approved Water Efficiency Management Plan and Water Restrictions Exemption Form is required to continue using water for essential production purposes.

 

Commercial pools

During restriction levels 1-3 using a hose is permitted every second day. If your business address is an even number, you can water on the even days of the month. If your business address is an odd number, you can water on the odd days of the month. Outside water use is not permitted on the 31stof the month.


Moderate (Level 1)

  • Topping up your pool is permitted with a handheld trigger nozzle hose as part of your one-hour allocation every second day
  • Your hose must be attended at all times
  • Use a pool cover to reduce evaporation
  • Refilling an existing pool from empty is not permitted


High (Level 2)

  • Topping up your pool is permitted with a handheld trigger nozzle hose as part of your 30-minute allocation every second day
  • Your hose must be attended at all times
  • Use a pool cover to reduce evaporation
  • Refilling an existing pool from empty is not permitted


Very high (Level 3)

  • Topping up your pool is permitted with a handheld trigger nozzle hose as part of your 10-minute allocation every second day
  • Your hose must be attended at all times
  • Use a pool cover to reduce evaporation
  • Refilling an existing pool from empty is not permitted


Severe (Level 4)

  • An approved Water Efficiency Management Plan and Water Restrictions Exemption Form is required to top up your pool
  • Use a pool cover to reduce evaporation


Emergency (Level 5)

  • There is a total ban on topping up pools
  • Use a pool cover to reduce evaporation.

Construction industry

Moderate (Level 1)

  • Handheld trigger nozzle hoses may be used for concrete/mortar mixing and general water-dependant construction activities, including surface preparation


High (Level 2)

  • Handheld trigger nozzle hoses may be used for concrete/mortar mixing and general water-dependant construction activities, including surface preparation


Very high (Level 3)

  • Handheld trigger nozzle hoses may be used for concrete/mortar mixing and general water-dependant construction activities, including surface preparation


Severe (Level 4)

  • A Water Efficiency Management Plan must be submitted to us for approval
  • Handheld trigger nozzle hoses may be used for general water-dependant construction activities, including surface preparation
  • The use of recycled water is encouraged for concrete/mortar mixing


Emergency (Level 5)

  • A Water Efficiency Management Plan must be submitted to us for approval
  • Handheld trigger nozzle hoses may be used for general water-dependant construction activities, including surface preparation
  • The use of recycled water is encouraged for concrete/mortar mixing.

Exterior cleaning

Moderate (Level 1)

  • Only handheld hoses with trigger nozzles may be used


High (Level 2)

  • Only handheld hoses with trigger nozzles may be used


Very high (Level 3)

  • Only handheld hoses with trigger nozzles may be used


Severe (Level 4)

  • A Water Efficiency Management Plan must be submitted to us for approval
  • Consider waterless cleaning or capture and reuse water


Emergency (Level 5)

  • A Water Efficiency Management Plan must be submitted to us for approval
  • Consider waterless cleaning or capture and reuse water

Livestock watering

Moderate (Level 1)

  • Livestock watering is permitted


High (Level 2)

  • Livestock watering is permitted


Very high (Level 3)

  • Livestock watering is permitted


Severe (Level 4)

  • Livestock watering is permitted
  • Consider reducing or relocating stock
  • Consider using alternate water sources


Emergency (Level 5)

  • Livestock watering is permitted
  • Consider reducing or relocating stock
  • Consider using alternate water sources.

Mobile water tankers

Mobile water tankers may only be filled from approved points between 8am and 8pm, irrespective of whether water restrictions are in place or not.


Moderate (Level 1)

  • Only permitted to be used for firefighting, road construction, refilling rainwater tanks or public health purposes


High (Level 2)

  • Only permitted to be used for firefighting, road construction, refilling rainwater tanks or public health purposes
  • There is a total ban on the use of mobile water tankers for landscaping purposes


Very high (Level 3)

  • Only permitted to be used for firefighting, road construction, refilling rainwater tanks or public health purposes
  • There is a total ban on the use of mobile water tankers for landscaping purposes


Severe (Level 4)

  • Only permitted to be used for firefighting, refilling rainwater tanks for drinking or public health purposes
  • There is a total ban on the use of mobile water tankers for landscaping or road construction. Consider using recycled water for these purposes
  • Water carters must inform Council of all water volumes and deliveries


Emergency (Level 5)

  • Only permitted to be used for firefighting, refilling rainwater tanks for drinking or public health purposes
  • There is a total ban on the use of mobile water tankers for landscaping or road construction. Consider using recycled water for these purposes
  • Water carters must inform Council of all water volumes and deliveries

Motor dealerships

Moderate (Level 1)

  • Cars may be washed with a bucket and rinsed with a trigger nozzle hose only, on grass or a porous surface where possible
  • Car detailing is permitted
  • The use of a machine washer with recirculation is permitted


High (Level 2)

  • Cars may be washed with a bucket and rinsed with a trigger nozzle hose only, on grass or a porous surface where possible
  • Car detailing is permitted
  • There is a total ban on the use of machine washers with recirculation


Very high (Level 3)

  • There is a total ban on washing cars except with a bucket for health and safety reasons e.g. to clean windscreens and lights


Severe (Level 4)

  • There is a total ban on washing cars except with a bucket for health and safety reasons e.g. to clean windscreens and lights


Emergency (Level 5)

  • There is a total ban on washing cars except with a bucket for health and safety reasons e.g. to clean windscreens and lights.

 

Nurseries, market gardens and turf farms

Moderate (Level 1)

  • The use of irrigation systems is banned between 9am-5pm
  • Handheld hoses can be used at any time


High (Level 2)

  • The use of irrigation systems is banned between 9am-5pm
  • Handheld hoses can be used at any time


Very high (Level 3)

  • The use of irrigation systems is banned between 6am and 6pm
  • Handheld hoses can be used at any time


Severe (Level 4)

  • An approved Water Efficiency Management Plan and Water Restrictions Exemption Form is required to continue using irrigation systems and handheld hoses
  • Reduce stock and consider drought tolerant species
  • No new pottings


Emergency (Level 5)

  • There is a total ban on the use of irrigation systems and handheld hoses
  • Recycled water may be used.

 

Pet care

Moderate (Level 1)

  • Your business may continue to operate as normal


High (Level 2)

  • Your business may continue to operate as normal


Very high (Level 3)

  • Your business may continue to operate as normal


Severe (Level 4)

  • A Water Efficiency Management Plan must be submitted to us for approval
  • There is a total ban on the use of hoses
  • Only buckets are permitted to be used for washing and rinsing


Emergency (Level 5)

  • A Water Efficiency Management Plan must be submitted to us for approval
  • There is a total ban on the use of hoses
  • Only buckets are permitted to be used for washing and rinsing

Public car wash facilities

Moderate (Level 1)

  • Your business may continue to operate as normal


High (Level 2)

  • Your business may continue to operate as normal


Very high (Level 3)

  • Your business may continue to operate as normal


Severe (Level 4)

  • Recycled water must be used


Emergency (Level 5)

  • Recycled water must be used.

 

 

If you require further information, please contact [email protected].