Residential
High water restrictions apply from Friday 28 August 2020
On this page you will find information on water restrictions for all households and residents using Bathurst water supply, along with advice and information on how you can help our water supply last longer.
Click on the links below to see details of water restrictions.
High water restrictions for home gardens apply from Friday, 28 August 2020
Greywater is re-usable wastewater from washing machines, showers, baths and basins. The use of greywater can help households to reduce the amount of drinking water being used for watering gardens and is a valuable resource.
There are health and safety risks associated with holding and using greywater. Please read the information below carefully.
What is Greywater?
Greywater is re-usable wastewater from washing machines, showers, baths and basins. The use of greywater can help households to reduce the amount of drinking water being used for watering gardens and is a valuable resource.
What is Blackwater?
Blackwater is water that has been used in toilets, urinals, bidets and kitchen sinks. Blackwater has to be treated and disinfected before it can be reused. Never use water that has come into contact with the toilet or any other toileting fixture such as a bidet or urinal. Furthermore, water that has been used to wash soiled nappies is also considered blackwater, and cannot be used.
What are the Benefits of Greywater?
Greywater benefits include:
- It is a relatively easy and safe source of water to access and use
- It is a good source of important nutrients for many plants
What is Bathurst Regional Council’s Greywater Policy?
Council’s Greywater Policy covers the use of greywater through:
- Manual bucketing
- Greywater diversion
- Greywater treatment
Council's Greywater Policy can be found on the Supports & Resources section. Residents who already have a greywater diversion system in place or may be interested in such a system should refer to this Greywater Policy in the first instance.
When to Use Greywater?
The manual bucketing of greywater does not require a Council approval, but it should be noted that under water restrictions greywater can only be used at the following times:
- Before 10am or after 4pm on any day
- Greywater must be used within 24 hours of it being collected
What to Consider When Using Greywater?
There are some things to consider with regard to the use of greywater, the first is that it contains contaminants, some of the common contaminants in greywater include:
- Salts
- Food materials
- Household detergents, soaps and chemicals
- Bacteria and other disease-causing microbes
Can I Weed 'n' Feed my lawn when watering with greywater?
Using greywater to apply Weed 'n' Feed, or a similar product that combines broad leaved herbicide with fertiliser, to lawns during dry times is not recommended since this product should be applied to wet lawns and then watered in to depth. Most households would not have sufficient greywater to achieve watering to depth. A better alternative is to delay fertilising lawns during dry times or apply a slow release organic fertiliser only at the start of Spring. Manual weeding of broad leaved weeds is recommended as an alternative to 'Weed and Feed'.
Ways to Reduce Health Risks When Using Greywater
It is important to be aware of the health risks attached to the use of greywater, some suggestions to reduce health risks are included below:
- Use lower risk sources of greywater, such as water from the shower, bath and laundry rinse cycle.
- Don’t use greywater on vegetable gardens
- Don’t use greywater if any member of your family is suffering from gastroenteritis
- Don’t irrigate your garden with greywater in wet weather or if the soil is already wet
- Don’t allow greywater to form pools or ponds in your garden. The microbes will thrive, creating an offensive smell and a health hazard
• Don’t allow your pets to drink greywater
- Take all steps to reduce public access to areas irrigated with greywater
- Keep children away from garden areas irrigated with greywater
- Make sure your swimming pool and any other water features, like ponds and birdbaths, are safe from greywater runoff.
- Encourage all the family to wash their hands before eating.
- For more information please refer to NSW Health web site www.health.nsw.gov.au
Consult with a licensed plumber before you attempt to alter any plumbing in your home and any use of greywater other than manual bucketing may be subject to Council and other approvals.
Practical suggestions for Safe Garden Use of Greywater
There are several practical suggestions that can assist with the use of greywater in the garden:
- Ingredients in cleaners and detergents that can harm or kill plants include total salts, sodium, chloride and boron. Check product labels carefully.
- Never hose, spray or mist untreated greywater. Greywater should be applied directly to the roots of the plant, not the foliage.
- Different plant, including natives, can tolerate differing amounts of nutrients. Consult with your local nursery for further information.
- Water your garden, in accordance with restrictions, with fresh water to help prevent the build-up of salts in your soil.
Consider your personal health and safety circumstances and that of those around you (including young children, seniors and people with mobility challenges) when collecting, holding, moving/carting and dispersing greywater.
See Resources & Forms section for a printable version of the Greywater Fact Sheet.
High water restrictions for home gardens apply from Friday, 28 August 2020
Bathurst Regional Council has implemented a range of drought management actions in accordance with its Drought Management Plan, water restrictions are part of this plan and relate solely to Bathurst water supply.
Alternative water supplies do exist, including bores, wells, independent rain water tanks (not filled/topped up from Bathurst water supply) and water sourced from supplies outside the region.
If an alternative water supply is being utilised, appropriate signage must be in place at the front of the property to alert compliance officers.
In rare circumstances raw water may also be available - please contact Council's Water Section for further information.
Hotline: (02) 6333 1683
Bathurst Bulk Filtered Drinking Water Filling Stations
Council provides a bulk filtered water supply via filling stations at Hereford Street. These filling stations provide filtered water from Bathurst’s town water supply, and therefore ARE NOT an alternative water source to the Bathurst water supply. Water from these filling stations must be used in accordance with current water restrictions. Anyone wishing to access bulk filtered water from these filling stations must obtain a Permit to Access Bulk Water - see Resources & Forms section for form.
High water restrictions apply from Friday, 28 August 2020
Garden features, bird baths and temporary children's pools: top up and filling IS permitted.
NB: Bird baths, frog ponds and other water containers are permitted to supply water for domestic and native animals.
Washing hard surfaces: Washing of outdoor hard surfaces such as driveways and footpaths is 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: 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.
Please see Resources & Forms section for forms, plans and other documents.
High water restrictions apply from Friday, 28 August 2020
- Topping up of pools IS permitted before 10.00am or after 4.00pm for a maximum filling time of 15 minutes per day
- A pool cover MUST be used in accordance with manufacturer's or supplier's instructions
- Council permission is required before first fill of new pool or the first refill of a renovated or repaired pool, please email
If pool owners have an independent alternative water supply to Bathurst water supply, a permit is not required.
*Note: a tank that is connected to Bathurst water supply network is not an independent alternative water supply.
High water restrictions for home gardens apply from Friday, 28 August 2020
Watering home gardens IS permitted: before 10am or after 4pm;
- On ODDS and EVENS * system
- Before 10.00am or after 4.00pm
- For a maximum of 60mins total including gardens and lawns on permitted days
- Using hoses with trigger nozzles, irrigation systems, microsprays, buckets and watering cans
ODDS and EVENS system
Odd numbered properties are permitted to water on odd numbered calendar dates, even numbered properties are permitted to water on even numbered dates.
Properties with a range of street numbers should be treated as odd or even as per the first number in the range (e.g 15 - 18 Main Street be an odd property.
If a property has no street number it should be treated as an even property
The 31st of the month is a watering-free day - no properties are permitted to water
High water restrictions for home gardens apply from Friday, 28 August 2020
Watering lawns IS permitted: before 10am or after 4pm;
- On ODDS and EVENS * system
- Before 10.00am or after 4.00pm
- For a maximum of 60mins total including gardens and lawns on permitted days
- Using hoses with trigger nozzles,irrigation systems, microsprays, buckets and watering cans
- A Council permit is required for new turf if restrictions cannot be adhered to (see Resources and Forms)
ODDS and EVENS system
Odd numbered properties are permitted to water on odd numbered calendar dates, even numbered properties are permitted to water on even numbered dates.
Properties with a range of street numbers should be treated as odd or even as per the first number in the range (e.g 15 - 18 Main Street be an odd property.
If a property has no street number it should be treated as an even property
The 31st of the month is a watering-free day - no properties are permitted to water.
For information how to best care for your lawn, see our Lawn Care Fact Sheet in the Resources and Forms section.
HIgh Level Water Restrictions Resources
Overview of High Water restrictions (Document)
Lawn High Water restrictions (Document)
Videos
For links to a series of resources available to assist gardeners with Water Smart Gardening please see below;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_J2EFvPaXA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGG-qgUX0uw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItkQsd4PqoM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItkQsd4PqoM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM-k92p8yV8
Exemption and Permit Forms
Residential Exemption Form - High Water Restrictions (Form)
Business (and community service) Exemption Form - High Water Restrictions (Form)
Permit to access bulk water - High Water Restrictions (Form)
Factsheets
Greywater Use Factsheet (Document)
Lawn Care Factsheet (Document)
Home Garden Factsheet (Document)
Home Garden Plants Factsheet (Document)
Business Checklist and Plans
Business - Water Saving Checklist - HIgh Water Restrictions(Form)
Business - Water Efficiency Plan - High Water Restrictions (Form)
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
HIgh water restrictions apply from Friday, 28 August 2020
- A small number of exemptions have been approved to-date, for high and extreme water restrictions.
If you are a resident connected to Bathurst water supply and believe you are unable to comply with water restrictions, you may apply for an exemption. As a resident, you must adhere to all water restrictions while your exemption application is being processed.
Businesses wishing to apply for an exemption should visit the business water restrictions information section for further information.
See Resources & Forms page in this section for exemption forms.
High water restrictions apply from Friday, 28 August 2020
- Water restrictions have been enforced since Monday 14th October 2019 and a range of penalties (as outlined below) can apply for non-compliance.
During times of water restrictions, at Level 3, 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 responsible. 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 responsible 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.
Chifley Dam is the main source of water supply for the Bathurst community.
On our Chifley Dam Details page we update dam level information each Tuesday, including current dam level, blue-green algae alerts, inflow and consumption readings and more.
