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General Water Restrictions Information

Overview of water restrictions per level (August 2019 Water Action Plan) 

Frequently Asked Questions (Document)

Extreme Water Restrictions

Details for Residential - Extreme Water Restrictions (Brochure)

Details for Businesses - Extreme Water Restrictions (Brochure

Details for Community Services - Extreme Water Restrictions (Brochure)

Residential Exemption Form - Extreme Water Restrictions (Form)

Business (and community services) Exemption Form Extreme Water Restrictions (Form)

Swimming Pool Information Sheet Extreme Water Restrictions (Document)

Swimming Pool Permit Extreme Water Restrictions (form)

Swimming Pool Businesses - additional information (Document)

Permit to Access Bulk Water Extreme Water Restrictions (form)

Greywater Use Factsheet (Document)

Greywater Policy (Document)

Business -Water Efficiency Plan Extreme Water Restrictions (Document)

Business - Water Saving Checklist Extreme Water Restrictions (Document)

Council's Drought Management Plan 2014 (Document)

Council's Report on Recreation Parks & Gardens Water Restrictions Actions (Document)

List of Council's Recreation Parks & Gardens and Water Restriction Actions (Document)

Web links to support resources

Business Information Session Presentation

Smart Water Advice in the Home

Smart Water Advice in the Garden

Department of Primary Industries - Drought Hub webpages

Water NSW - Drought Information

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Extreme water restrictions in effect from Monday 14th October 2019

NO exemptions have been approved for EXTREME (level 4-5) water restrictions at this time.

There may be unusual or extenuating circumstances whereby businesses are unable to comply with water restrictions. In this case a business or organisation may make an application for an exemption in line with the exemption policy contained within the Bathurst Regional Council Drought Management Plan 2014. Any exemption will only be valid for the specific water restriction level currently in place. 

Businesses and community services/organisations unable to comply with EXTREME water restrictions can apply for an exemption and may continue to operate as per normal (using water conservatively) while waiting for their exemption application to be processed.

All successful requests will receive correspondence stating that an exemption has been granted and detailing any conditions which may apply. Unsuccessful requests will also receive correspondence.

Bathurst Regional Council may revoke the exemption and/or issue a penalty notice if:

• The information provided in the application is found to be false
• Water is being used for purposes other than those stated in the application
• Activity is found to be non-compliant with the exemption conditions

Should the water restriction level be changed to CRITICAL, then all approved exemptions are to be considered revoked from the day the change takes effect. For more information regarding water restrictions and the process of obtaining an exemption please phone Council on (02) 6333 1683.

N.B. Any resident seeking an exemption must adhere to EXTREME water restrictions while their exemption application is being processed. 

Exemption forms for businesses in EXTREME water restrictions can be found in the Supports & Resources section on this page. 

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For EXTREME level (in effect from Monday, 14 October 2019) 

• Water restrictions will be ENFORCED from Monday 14th October 2019 and a range of penalties (as outlined below) will apply for non-compliance.

During times of water restrictions, at Level 4, 5 or 6 Council may adopt various enforcement options (as contained within the Bathurst Regional Council Enforcement policy) including but not limited to the following;

(1) Verbal Warning

A verbal warning may be issued by an authorized Council officer to a person for a minor breach incident arising from genuine ignorance of the water restrictions. The authorized officer will provide information to the resident and later record the incident as a verbal warning for the premises. 

(2) Warning Letter

In cases where a minor but deliberate breach of restrictions has occurred Council may issue a formal warning letter to the resident responisble. A second warning letter may be issued subject to circumstances. 

(3) Penalty Notice

Where a warning has been previously given or in cases of more significant and deliberate breaches of water restrictions, a penalty notice may be issued.  The maximum penalty is $2,200.00.

(4) Court Attendance Notice

In serious breaches of water restrictions or in the case of repeated deliberate offending, Council may initiate legal action against the person responsibnle through issuing a Court Attendance Notice.

(5) Install an electronic meter on a property

Installing an electronic water meter on a property allows for more accurate monitoring of water use. The data gathered may be used as evidence to support further enforcement action.

(6) Install a flow restriction device on a property

A flow restriction device may be installed on the premises of minor recidivist offenders or where previous enforcement action has failed to achieve compliance with water restrictions.

(7) Disconnect Councils water supply to a property

In the most serious cases of breach of water restrictions or where other enforcement action has failed to achieve compliance with water restrictions, the General Manager may approve the disconnection of supply of water from Council. 

Additionally, all fees for the installation and later removal of any meter and/or flow restrictions devices as well as the disconnection and reconnection of a water supply service, shall be met by the owner of the property.

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For EXTREME level (in effect from Monday, 14 October 2019)

Garden features and temporary childrens pools: top up and filling NOT permitted.

Washing hard surfaces: Washing of outdoor hard surfaces such as driveways and footpaths NOT permitted EXCEPT for health and safety purposes (washing only allowed in immediately affected area and with use of a high pressure/low volume water device).

Indoor activities: 4 minute showers OR 1 bath/person/day (150mm deep) AND WaterWise actions required - ie. only use washing machine and/or dishwasher when full, turn taps off when brushing teeth, check for dripping taps and fix leaks. Council does not actively enforce indoor water use restrictions, however residents are asked to be conservative with indoor water consumption.

Council reminds customers that maintaining health, safety and hygiene is a priority – conservative water use for these purposes is permitted regardless of water restriction level.

See below a snap shot of restrictions that apply at each water restriction level:

See the Support and Resources page for more downloadable information. 

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For Extreme Water Restrictions in effect from 14 October 2019   ** Conditions apply

• No filling of new pools using Bathurst water supply

• Topping up of pools will ONLY be allowed with an approved Council Pool Permit
  
  

** Conditions: Permits may be granted to indoor public pools and hydrotherapy pools. Permits may be granted to private pools for the express purpose of minimising damage to existing pools. Further conditions will apply.

During Extreme Water Restrictions topping up of residential pools using Bathurst water supply is not allowed without a Council permit.

When completing and submitting a Council Pool Permit for topping up a residential pool, pool owners must provide evidence from the pool manufacturer, or other evidence, that notes the potential damage to infrastructure which would result if their pool water level is not kept at a certain level.

For full details see the Swimming Pool Information Sheet, Swimming Pool Business Additional Information Sheet and Swimming Pool Permit under the Support & Resources tab in this section.

If pool owners have an alternative water supply to Bathurst water supply, a permit is not required. 

Extreme water restrictions specifically related to residential pools are in place to minimise damage to pool owners' infrastructure, while simultaneously ensuring Bathurst's limited water supply is kept for drinking purposes wherever possible during these exceptionally dry times.  

In the event that a pool is permitted to be topped up using Bathurst water supply, pool owners and users are expected to refrain from any activities that result in water splashing out from use (e.g. 'bombing' into the pool), as this will result in an unnecessary draw on the limited water resources of Bathurst water supply.

Pool covers should be kept on for as long as is safe and feasible, to further limit water loss from evaporation. Pool owners should contact their pool manufacturer or pool expert to ensure the pool covering times take into account possible infrastructure damage and health hazards from chlorine over-concentration, aglae build-up and other results of covering pools. 

A reminder: A condition of Council's Pool Permit for topping up of a residential pool, is that pool owner's not engage in pool activities that splash water from the pool, as this will lead to unnecessary use of limited drinking water resources.