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Smart Water Choices

Smart Water Choices are our region’s permanent water conservation measures.

What are Smart Water Choices?

Smart Water Choices are the Lower Hunter’s mandatory permanent water conservation measures. They help the community build good water saving habits during normal weather conditions.

When total water storages reach 60%, we transition to water restrictions.

  • Current 68.3%
  • Last Year 86.3%

What this means for you

Use a trigger nozzle

All hand held hoses must have a trigger nozzle. Trigger nozzles give more control over the water flow so less water is wasted.

Water before 10am or after 4pm

Water the garden before 10am or after 4pm. This avoids the hottest part of the day when water is easily evaporated.

Use a broom for hard surfaces

Use a broom to clean hard surfaces, such as paths and driveways, instead of a hose or pressure washer. 

Exemptions

Alternate water sources

Your home or business isn't required to comply with Smart Water choices if water is sourced from:

  • bore water
  • rainwater (that isn't topped up with mains water)
  • recycled water

However, we still encourage you to build water saving habits.

New turf and gardens

Your home or business isn't required to comply with Smart Water choices if water is sourced from:

  • bore water
  • rainwater (that isn't topped up with mains water)
  • recycled water

However, we still encourage you to build water saving habits.

Dust suppression

The use of water for dust suppression but only where there is no alternative water source reasonably available at the location. 

Where a dust incident involves hazardous dust, such as asbestos, use of water must comply with the applicable incident response guidelines for the suppression of the specific hazardous substance.

Fire fighting

The use of fire hoses for firefighting purposes, hazard reduction purposes or fire service testing.

Filling up pools

The use of water by means of an attended hose fitted with a trigger nozzle for topping up water in pools to replace water lost through normal use conditions including evaporation.

Cleaning buildings

The washing of building structures, including windows, walls, gutters and roofing using high pressure water cleaning equipment or hose fitted with a trigger nozzle.

Cleaning paths, driveways and hard surfaces

Spot cleaning with a hose of paths, driveways and other hard surfaces when cleaning with water is necessary for purposes relating to a safety, a health, or an emergency incident, or a construction activity, or due to surface discolouration. 

For the use of water under this exclusion the hose used must be fitted with a trigger nozzle unless it is used to supply high pressure water cleaning equipment.

Irrigating nurseries and sporting fields

The use of a hand held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, sprinklers or other watering systems is permitted for:

  • commercial nurseries
  • market gardeners
  • commercial growers
  • landscapers
  • mobile garden contractors
  • persons responsible for the maintenance of community gardens
  • bowling greens
  • cricket grounds
  • golf tees and greens
  • croquet, hockey, tennis and racing surfaces.