Temporary water restrictions

The Utilties (Water Conservation) Regulation 2006 provides for the ACT’s temporary water restrictions scheme. The scheme comes into effect if ACTEW Corporation (the ACT’s water utility), after consultation with the Minister and the Environment Protection Authority, identifies the need to restrict the use of water based on a number of criteria, such as water storage levels. Temporary water restrictions are a means of achieving short-term demand reductions due to drought or other emergencies.

The combination of record low inflows into our dams, predictions of continued hot and dry weather and higher than expected water consumption in the ACT means Stage 3 Temporary Water Restrictions apply from 16 December 2006.

These are mandatory and enforceable and currently replace the Permanent Water Conservation Measures which are in force at all other times.