Water restrictions
To make sure we have enough water for our community, we have rules about how you can use Coffs Harbour's water supply.
When water in the Orara and Nymboida Rivers drops below the level we are allowed to take water from them, we rely on Karangi and Shannon Creek Dams to supply our drinking water. As the water in these dams drops lower, we bring in tougher water restrictions.
You can check our current dam levels on this website.
Under the Local Government Act 1993, we can issue on the spot fines of $220 for breaking these rules. These fines only apply to properties connected to Coffs Harbour's water supply ('town water').
Report breaches to us on 02) 6648 4000.
Current level
The Water Restriction Level currently in force in the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area is:
Permanent water conservation measures
When our combined levels can be maintained above 80% we have good water supplies and only need to practice common-sense water saving habits.
Gardens and lawns
- Sprinklers and fixed or unattended hoses can only be used before 9am and after 4pm.
- Handheld hoses can be used at any time on the garden and lawn.
Building maintenance and hard surfaces
- Building maintenance, including window cleaning is permitted with trigger nozzle hoses or pressure cleaners.
- Hosing any hardstand area (eg driveway) is banned except for health and safety reasons, or if you are using a pressure cleaner.
Vehicles
- Car washing is allowed when runoff remains on the property.
To help save water, you can:
- Get a trigger nozzle for your hose
- Wash your car on the lawn
Next level water restrictions
Further information about water restrictions levels:
For properties connected to the Coffs Harbour town water supply, Level 1 Water Restrictions will apply when dam levels drop to 80%.
Residential
Gardens and lawns
- No sprinklers, fixed or unattended hoses or above-ground irrigation systems allowed at any time.
- Watering is allowed every other day before 9am and after 4pm
- handheld hoses for a maximum of one hour
- Micro-spray, drippers and sub-surface irrigation for a maximum of 15 minutes
- No watering of any kind is permitted on 31st day of each month.
How do you know your watering day?
If your street address is an odd number, eg 5 Example Street, you can water on odd number calendar days, so 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and so on. This applies to your street address, not your unit number, so unit 2/5 Example Street can water on odd number calendar days.
Building maintenance and hardstand areas
- Hosing or pressure cleaning of any hardstand area (eg driveway) is banned except for health and safety reasons.
- Building maintenance (windows and roofs) allowed with trigger nozzle hoses or pressure cleaners only.
Vehicles
- Car washing is allowed when runoff remains on property.
To help save water, you can
- get a trigger nozzle for your hose
- Invest in irrigation systems
- Wash your car on the lawn
Non-Residential
Certain business types will need to apply to the City for approval to use town water during Level 1 water restrictions.
Non-residential water restriction guidelines can be found in the attached document. Level-1-water-restrictions-non-residential.pdf(PDF, 847KB)
Please call the City on 02) 6648 4000 to discuss the approval process.
Level 2 water restrictions apply when dam levels drop below 65%.
Residential
Gardens and lawn
- No sprinklers, fixed or unattended hoses or above-ground irrigation systems allowed at any time.
- Watering is allowed every other day before 9am and after 4pm
- Handheld hose for a maximum of 30 minutes
- Micro-spray, drippers and sub-surface irrigation for a maximum of 15 minutes
- No watering of any kind is allowed on the 31st day of the month.
How do you know your watering day?
If your street address is an odd number, eg 5 Example Street, you can water on odd number calendar days, so 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and so on. This applies to your street address, not your unit number, so unit 2/5 Example Street can water on odd number calendar days.
Building maintenance and hard surfaces
- No hosing or pressure cleaning of any hardstand area (eg driveway) except for health and safety reasons.
- Building maintenance (windows and roofs) allowed with trigger nozzle hoses or pressure cleaners only.
- Filling of new pools and topping up of existing pools only permitted.
Vehicles
- Car washing allowed with a pressure cleaner, bucket or at a commercial car wash facility.
Non-Residential
Certain business types will need to apply to the City for approval to use town water during Level 2 water restrictions.
Non-residential water restriction guidelines can be found in the attached document. Level-2-water-restrictions-non-residential.pdf(PDF, 849KB)
Please call the City on 02) 6648 4000 to discuss the approval process.
Level 3 water restrictions will apply when calculated combined dam levels drop to 50%.
Residential
- No sprinklers, fixed or unattended hoses or above ground irrigation systems allowed at any time.
- No micro-spray, drippers or sub-surface irrigation allowed at any time.
- Watering is allowed every other day before 9am and after 4pm
- Handheld hose for a maximum of 10 minutes
- No watering of any kind is permitted on the 31st of the month.
how do you know your watering day?
If your street address is an odd number, eg 5 Example Street, you can water on odd number calendar days, so 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and so. This applies to your street address, not your unit number, so unit 2/5 Example Street can water on odd number calendar days.
Building maintenance and hard surfaces
- No hosing or pressure cleaning of any hardstand area (eg driveway) except for health and safety reasons.
- No hosing or pressure cleaning of any windows or roofs.
- Topping up of pools allowed every other day before 9am and after 4pm, using a handheld hose for a maximum of 10 minutes.
Vehicles
- No car washing with a hose or pressure cleaner allowed.
- Car washing allowed with a bucket or at a commercial car wash facility.
Non-Residential
Certain business types will need to apply to the City for approval to use town water during Level 3 water restrictions.
Non-residential restriction guidelines can be found in the attached document. Level-3-water-restrictions-non-residential.pdf(PDF, 854KB)
Please call the City on 02) 6648 4000 to discuss the approval process.
Level 4 water restrictions will apply when calculated combined dam levels drop to 35%.
Residential
Gardens and lawns
- Watering gardens and lawns with greywater allowed.
- No use of town water on gardens and lawns.
Building maintenance and hard surfaces
- No hosing or pressure cleaning of any hardstand area (eg driveway).
- No hosing or pressure cleaning for building maintenance (windows and roofs).
- No filling or topping up of pools.
Vehicles
- Car washing with a bucket to clean windows, mirrors, lights, registration plates and spot-removal of corrosive substances allowed.
- Car washing at commercial car wash facility permitted.
Non-residential
Certain business types will need to apply to the City for approval to use town water during Level 4 water restrictions.
Non-residential restriction guidelines can be found in the attached document. Level-4-water-restrictions-non-residential.pdf(PDF, 847KB)
Please call the City on 02) 6648 4000 to discuss the approval process.
Level 4 water restrictions will apply when calculated combined dam levels drop to 20%.
residential
Gardens and lawns
- Watering gardens and lawns with greywater only.
- No use of town water on gardens and lawns.
Building maintenance and hard surfaces
- No hosing or pressure cleaning of any hardstand area (eg driveway).
- No hosing or pressure cleaning for building maintenance (windows and roofs).
- No filling or topping up of pools.
Vehicles
- Car washing to clean windows, mirrors, lights, registration plates and spot-removal of corrosive substances allowed with a bucket.
- Car washing at commercial car wash facility allowed.
Non-residential
Certain business types will need to apply to the City for approval to use town water during Level 2 water restrictions.
Non-residential water restriction guidelines can be found in the attached document. emergency-conservation-measures-non-residential.pdf(PDF, 851KB)
Please call the City on 02) 6648 4000 to discuss the approval process.
When our combined dam levels can be maintained above 80%, we have good water supplies and only need to practice common-sense water saving habits.
Residential
Gardens and lawns
- Sprinklers and fixed or unattended hoses can only be used before 9am and after 4pm.
- Handheld hoses can be used at any time on the gardens and lawn.
Building maintenance and hard surfaces
- Building maintenance, including window cleaning is permitted with trigger nozzle hoses or pressure cleaners.
- Hosing any hardstand area (eg driveway) is allowed for health and safety reasons, or with a pressure cleaner.
Vehicles
- Car washing allowed when runoff remains on property.
Non-residential
Non-residential water restriction guidelines can be found in the attached document. permanent-water-conservation-non-residential.pdf(PDF, 848KB)