Australian Capital Territory

Utilities (Water Restrictions Scheme) 
Approval 2003 (No 3)

Disallowable instrument DI 2003-266

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. ACTEW may declare water restrictions under a stage by reference to the capacity or quality of stored water available and/or the level of reduction in current and future water consumption.   Furthermore in deciding which stage of restrictions should be in force, ACTEW may have regard to currently available weather forecasts and other meteorological advice, daily consumption levels in the immediately preceding period, the desirability of avoiding excessive reliance on only one of the ACT’s two water catchments, daily consumption levels in corresponding periods in previous years, risk of damage to property and any other relevant consideration. The most severe water restrictions will be imposed at stage 5.

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

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.