Permanent Water Saving Rules

Bottom of bill panel - Qtr 3 - Jan 2026 - PWSR

Permanent water saving rules were introduced in 2011 to help us use water efficiently. The rules were reviewed in December 2025 to ensure they are still fit for purpose.

Water is one of our most precious resources, essential for life. However our water storages can drop rapidly, so we all need to make sure it isn’t being wasted. Across Victoria, households and businesses are taking practical steps to conserve our water supplies, like collecting rainwater and installing water-efficient appliances to protect our water supplies for the future.

To support these efforts, Permanent Water Saving Rules are in place across the state every day of the year. These simple, common-sense rules aim to ensure that we all use drinking water wisely to reduce waste and ensure we’re doing our part to safeguard it for generations to come.

While most people do the right thing, it’s important to know that breaking the rules can lead to penalties.

These rules focus on outdoor water use and apply only to drinking water – not greywater, rainwater, bore water, or recycled water.

Below is a summary of the rules. For more details, please refer to the FAQ below.

Note that there are many more water saving steps we can each take to go above and beyond these basic rules – water saving tips.

Key rules

Hoses

Hoses must be leak free with a trigger nozzle for all uses, including washing cars and gardens. Trigger nozzles ensure less water is wasted.

Garden watering

Home and commercial gardens can only be watered between 6pm and 10am, if using watering systems. This avoids the hottest part of the day when water wastage occurs due to evaporation.

You can water gardens at any time using a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, watering can or bucket.

Hard surfaces

Water must not be used to clean hard surfaces such as concrete, paths and driveways. Swapping to a broom will save a lot of water from being washed down the drain.

Exemptions apply when cleaning is needed to address a hazard, surface staining or during construction. See FAQ below for more information on situations when water can be used to clean hard surfaces.

In these situations, a high pressure water cleaning device must be used if one is available. Otherwise, a hand-held hose or a bucket can be used.

Public green spaces

Public gardens, lawns and playing surfaces (e.g. bowling greens, sporting ovals and pitches) can be watered:

with a hand-held hose (fitted with a trigger nozzle), watering can or bucket at any time, any day
by a sprinkler or watering system fitted with a rain or soil moisture sensor between 6 pm and 10 am. (This avoids the hottest part of the day when water wastage occurs due to evaporation and ensures that we don’t water when it’s not needed or in accordance with an approved water use plan.)

Fountains and water features

All fountains and other water features must recirculate water.

Exemptions

Westernport Water may grant exemptions from water rules or restrictions in special circumstances.

For information regarding the circumstances under which an exemption may be granted and how to apply, please visit our Exemptions and Water Use Plans page.

Model Water Restriction By-Law 106

Read more about the Model Water Restriction By-Law here – Model Water Restriction By-law 106