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Water Conservation

Water Wise Rules

Water Wise Rules are in place and should be followed by everyone in Hornsby Shire as Sydney's prolonged dry weather continues. They apply to both residents and businesses in Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra.

Rules

Under the Water Wise Rules you can:

  • water lawns and gardens with a sprinkler, irrigation system or hose fitted with a trigger nozzle any day before 10 am and after 4 pm
  • use sprinklers or watering systems to establish new lawn and gardens at any time for the first 14 days
  • use water to cool people and animals
  • hose paths, driveways and other hard surfaces for safety, health, emergency, construction or surface discoloration reasons only
  • wash vehicles, trailers, boats or buildings using a bucket, high pressure cleaning equipment or a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle
  • use bore water, recycled water or rainwater (as long as the tank isn't topped up from the drinking water supply). Some government restrictions apply to bore water and water extracted from rivers, so always check with your local council or WaterNSW.
  • use water for fire fighting or to test fire systems.

The following uses are also allowed: Commercial nurseries, market gardeners, commercial growers, landscapers and mobile garden contractors can use a sprinkler, irrigation system or hose fitted with a trigger nozzle at any time.

People responsible for the maintenance of community gardens, bowling greens, cricket wickets, golf tees and greens, croquet, hockey, tennis and racing surfaces can use a sprinkler, irrigation system or hose fitted with a trigger nozzle at any time.

Water wise tips

Water wise tips are everyday common sense things you can do around your home and garden to use water efficiently. Adopting water wise habits to save water is one way to limit the effect of water restrictions and unreliable water supplies on your lifestyle. For more information visit www.sydneywater.com.au/SW/your-home/using-water-wisely/water-wise-tips/index.htm

NSW Dam Levels

For information on dam levels and Water NSW:
www.waternsw.com.au/

The Water Cycle of Hornsby

The water cycle is the term for everything that happens to water between falling as rainfall and being evaporated again into the clouds. For a pictorial explanation of the total water cycle, download the posters below: