Water restrictions 2020 and how they affect your watering system.
As of June 1st, 2019, Sydney Water has introduced Level 1 water restrictions, with fines to be enforced if the restriction rules are broken. There will be a 3 month grace period before fines are enforced.
After moving to Level 2 water restrictions in December 2019, Level 1 water restrictions were re-instated in March 2020.
Water restrictions were scrapped 1st December 2020.
Sydney water would like the previous restrictions to be considered as water saving measures and followed where possible.
Follow this link to the Sydney Water website for the full list of restrictions
https://www.sydneywater.com.au/SW/water-the-environment/what-we-re-doing/water-restrictions/index.htm
As far as most domestic watering systems are concerned there are 3 main types of watering that are mentioned.
- Drip Irrigation– At level 1 Drip Irrigation is exempt from the Water restrictions.
- Garden Spray Systems– can only be used where the watering system has one or more of the features listed below.
- Pop up Sprinklers–
can only be used where the watering system has one or more of the features listed below.
Watering systems that have the following features are considered Smart Watering Systems & can operate the Garden Sprays and Pop up Sprinklers:
- Rain Sensor– a rain sensor can be added to your automatic controller at minimal cost. Some battery operated controllers have the option to add a rain sensor. Contact us to see if your controller can have a rain sensor installed.
- Automated Weather Adjustment– refers to the new Internet connected automatic controllers. These controllers obtain weather data from local weather stations and adjust your watering to the current weather conditions. When it’s hot, they water more, cold water less. In the event of rainfall, they reduce or suspend watering. These controllers, when installed, can be accessed from your smart phone, tablet or computer for adjustment or manual watering, anywhere there is internet connection. These controllers are the future of watering system controllers. If your existing controller is ready to be updated, this would be a sensible way to ensure your watering system operates economically and is modernised going into the future. Contact us for a quote to upgrade your system.
- Soil Moisture sensor– Soil moisture sensors are more expensive than rain sensors and are dearer to install. Usually you need multiple soil moisture sensors to cover all the different areas of the garden, multiplying the cost. While soil moisture sensors can be added to your existing system, most watering system controllers only have the capacity to have one sensor, making soil moisture sensors far less effective and more expensive as the two options above.
If you have any questions about how your watering system can operate during the current water restrictions, please contact us at Colin Green’s Landscaping & Irrigation Services 0419613903
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LEVEL 2 WATERING RESTRICTIONS
In force from December 2019, Level 2 water restrictions require that your automated watering system is considered a Smart system. A Smart system is one that has a Rain Sensor or Soil Moisture Sensor attached or is an Automated Weather Adjustment system as noted above in Level 1 restrictions.
The main changes from Level 1 restrictions to Level 2 restrictions is that compliant systems can only be used before 10 am & after 4 pm.
Drip irrigation controlled by a timer can be used for 15 minutes a day per watering zone. Other types of watering, micro sprays & pop ups can be used 15 minutes a day per watering zone. All these types of watering can only be used in the set times before 10 am and after 4 pm.
Use of hoses, sprinklers, soaker hoses or tap timers, can’t be used for watering lawns and gardens. The only way watering can be done without using a Smart system is by using a bucket or a watering can.
If you have any questions about how your watering system can operate during the current water restrictions, please contact us at Colin Green’s Landscaping & Irrigation Services 0419613903.