Central Coast Water Restrictions

Water Restrictions

As our dam storage levels fall during drought, water restrictions apply to help us make sure there’s enough water for everyone.   

Restrictions apply to everyone who uses the Central Coast’s water supply, including residents, schools and businesses. They cover the outdoor use of town water, including water in urban rainwater tanks connected to or topped-up by town water.   

The use of bore water and/or recycled water is not restricted.  In the event of - or where there is risk of - an accident, fire, hazard to health, safety or environment, water restrictions do not apply.  See each level below.  

For even more detail about how restrictions affect everyone, including schools and businesses, see the full water restrictions table.

In some circumstances, you may be able to apply for an exemption permit.

Dam Levels 50% - Level 1 Restrictions

 

What can you do?

What can't you do?

 Watering lawns and gardens 
Plant
  • Water lawns and gardens with a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or use drip irrigation systems:
    • any day of the week
    • before 10am and after 4pm to avoid the heat of the day
    • watering cans may be used to water at any time on any day.
  • Use sprinklers at any time
  • Leave hoses or taps running unattended
 Hard surfaces 
Sweeping
  • Wash external building surfaces, including windows, retaining walls, structures (e.g. pergolas) and outdoor furniture, provided a trigger nozzle or pressure cleaner is used.
  • Spot clean for safety, health or emergency reasons with a hose fitted with trigger nozzle. 
  • Use a hose for general cleaning of hard surfaces such as paths, driveways and paved areas.
  • Leave hoses and taps running unattended.
 Washing vehicles, boats and buildings 
Washing Car
  • Wash vehicles and boats with a bucket or hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or pressure cleaner.
  • Flush boat motors with a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle.

Tip: wash your car on your lawn and your grass will benefit.

  • Wash vehicles, boats and buildings using a hose without a trigger nozzle.
 Private pools and spas 
Swimming pool
  • Top up existing pools and spas from the town water supply.
  • Fill up new pools and spas using the town water supply.
  • Leave an unattended hose running in a pool or spa.
 Internal use 
Washing Car
  • Help water saving efforts by repairing internal leaks as quickly as possible, such as dripping taps or leaking toilets.

Tip: Fixing a leaking toilet can save you between 10 to 260 litres a day.

 

Have questions? Read our FAQ

Dam Levels 40% - Level 2 Restrictions

 

What can you do?

What can't you do?

 Watering lawns and gardens 
Plant
  • Water lawns and gardens with a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or drip irrigation systems for one hour per day three days of the week:
    • between 6-9am and 4-7pm
    • odd numbered homes – Monday, Wednesday and Saturday
    • even numbered homes – Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday
    • watering cans may be used to water at any time on any day.
  • Use sprinklers at any time
  • Leave hoses or taps running unattended
 Hard surfaces 
Sweeping
  • Wash external building surfaces, including windows, retaining walls, structures (e.g. pergolas) and outdoor furniture, provided a trigger nozzle or pressure cleaner is used.
  • Spot clean for safety, health or emergency reasons with a hose fitted with trigger nozzle.
  • Use a hose for general cleaning of hard surfaces such as paths, driveways and paved areas.
  • Leave hoses and taps running
    unattended.
 Washing vehicles, boats and buildings 
Washing Car
  • All road vehicles and boats and their trailers may be washed with a bucket or a hose provided a trigger nozzle or pressure cleaner is used.
  • Flush boat motors with a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle.

Tip: wash your car on your lawn and your grass will benefit.

  • Wash vehicles, boats and buildings using a hose without a trigger nozzle.
 Private pools and spas 
Swimming pool
  • Top up existing pools and spas using a hose from the town water supply.
  • Fill a new pool and spa from the town water supply.
  • Empty and refill existing pools or
    spas using a hose from the town
    water supply.
  • Leave an unattended hose running
    in a pool or spa.
 Internal use 
Washing Car
  • Help water saving efforts by repairing internal leaks as quickly as possible, such as dripping taps or leaking toilets.

Tip: Fixing a leaking toilet can save you between 10 to 260 litres a day.

 

Dam Levels 35% - Level 3 Restrictions

 

What can you do?

What can't you do?

 Watering lawns and gardens 
Plant
  • Water lawns and gardens with a hand held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or drip irrigation systems for one hour per day on two days of the week:
    • between 6-9am and 4-7pm
    • odd numbered homes – Wednesday and Saturday
    • even numbered homes – Thursday and Sunday
    • watering cans may be used to water at any time on any day.
  • Use sprinklers at any time
  • Leave hoses or taps running unattended
 Hard surfaces 
Sweeping 
  • No washing or wetting of any external surface is permitted, including paths, driveways, building surface, outside furniture or structures.
 Washing vehicles, boats and buildings 
Washing Car
  • All road vehicles and boats and their trailers may be washed with a bucket or a hose provided a trigger nozzle or pressure cleaner is used.
  • Flush boat motors with a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle.

Tip: wash your car on your lawn and your grass will benefit.

  • Wash vehicles, boats and buildings using a hose without a trigger nozzle.
 Private pools and spas 
Swimming pool
  • Only use a bucket or supply other than the drinking water supply system to top up existing pools.
  • Fill a new pool and spa from the town water supply.
  • Top up existing pools and spas using a hose from the town water supply.
  • Empty and refill existing pools or spas using a hose from the town water supply.
  • Leave an unattended hose running in a pool or spa
 Internal use 
Washing Car
  • Help water saving efforts by repairing internal leaks as quickly as possible, such as dripping taps or leaking toilets.

Tip: Fixing a leaking toilet can save you between 10 to 260 litres a day.

 

Dam Levels 30% - Level 4 Restrictions

 

What can you do?

What can't you do?

 Watering lawns and gardens 
Plant
  • Watering cans may be used to water at any time on any day.
  • Use hoses or sprinklers (including micro spray) at any time.
 Hard surfaces 
Sweeping 
  • No washing or wetting of any external surface is permitted, including paths, driveways, building surface, outside furniture or structures.
 Washing vehicles, boats and buildings 
Washing Car
  • All road vehicles and boats and their trailers may be washed with a bucket.
  • Boat trailers may be washed with a bucket or a hose provided a trigger nozzle or pressure cleaner is used (max 5 mins).
  • Flush boat motors with a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle (max 5 mins).
    Tip: Wash your car on your lawn

Tip: wash your car on your lawn and your grass will benefit.

  • Use a hose to wash vehicles and boats.
 Private pools and spas 
Swimming pool
  • Only use a bucket (not a hose) or supply other than the drinking water supply system to top up existing pools.
  • Top up existing pools and spas using a hose from the town water supply.
  • Empty and refill existing pools or spas using a hose from the town water supply.
  • Fill a new pool and spa from the town water supply.
 Internal use 
Washing Car
  • Help water saving efforts by repairing internal leaks as quickly as possible, such as dripping taps or leaking toilets.

Tip: Fixing a leaking toilet can save you between 10 to 260 litres a day.

 

Dam Levels 25% - Level 5 Restrictions

 

What can you do?

What can't you do?

 Watering lawns and gardens 
Plant 
  • All external use of town water is banned.
 Hard surfaces 
Sweeping 
  • All external use of town water is banned.
 Washing vehicles, boats and buildings 
Washing Car
  • Vehicles windows can be cleaned using a
    bucket.
  • All external use of town water is banned.
 Private pools and spas 
Swimming pool 
  • All external use of town water is banned.
 Internal use 
Washing Car
  • Help water saving efforts by repairing internal leaks as quickly as possible, such as dripping taps or leaking toilets.

Tip: Fixing a leaking toilet can save you between 10 to 260 litres a day.

 
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