Australian Capital Territory

Utilities – Water Restriction Scheme Approval 2003 (No 2)

Disallowable instrument DI 2003-54

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The Utility (Water Restrictions) Regulations 2002, made under the Utilities Act 2000, s. 234, provides for a water restriction scheme in the ACT.  

The scheme supports the Utility (Water Restrictions) Regulations 2002 providing for restrictions on the use of water in times of drought.  The scheme provides different stages of restrictions on the use of water, depending on the water storage at the time or the quantity of water of potable quality available.

The scheme will be implemented by ACTEW Corporation Limited.  The scheme provides for five (5) stages of water restrictions that may be initiated by the Chief Executive Officer of the utility when the Territory’s water storages reach specified stages.  These stages are between 57.5% and 52.5% for the first stage, 45%, 40%, 35%, and 30% for the subsequent stages.  The most severe water restrictions will be imposed at stage 5.  When imposing restrictions regard is also given to the quantity of water of potable quality available to ACTEW on a sustainable basis.  The scheme specifies a daily maximum rate of 180 megalitres of potable water be available across all stages of the scheme.

The scheme provides for target reductions in consumption of water under each specific stage of water restrictions.  

In the use of water for private gardens and lawns the scheme provides a summer and winter watering hours regime for sprinklers and hand held hoses.  The definitions of summer and winter are provided in the notes to the scheme and are based on Australian Eastern Daylight Time and Australian Eastern Standard Time.