Despite some local rain this year, Sydney’s rainfall-dependent reservoirs such as Warragamba Dam are low. Level 1 Water Restrictions have been in place since the beginning of June for greater Sydney (including the Blue Mountains and Illawarra regions).

In addition to using water on campus, most staff and students also live in this area so it’s important to know what you can do both at work and at home to conserve Sydney’s water supply.

Allowed

Subject to conditions – see Sydney Water

• hand-held garden/lawn watering only with a trigger nozzle hose
• filling pools subject to conditions
• washing vehicles with water in a bucket, high-pressure cleaner or hose with a trigger nozzle

Not allowed

Subject to exceptions – see Sydney Water

• hosing hard surfaces
• unattended hoses
• sprinklers and watering systems

What can you do?

At work, staff are encouraged to report any leaks or dripping taps online via a Property service request or by calling Property customer service on 9850 7145. The issue will be fixed as soon as possible.

At home you might be interested in Sydney Water’s residential offer WaterFix that provides assistance and rebates to fix water leaks and replace inefficient tap fittings.

How do we currently conserve water on campus?

The University employs several water-conservation measures including reduced water pressure and timed water flow in bathroom taps and we don’t irrigate (except for research project purposes) our sizeable outdoor areas because we plant species that don’t require irrigation.

For other ways to be sustainable with water, head to the Sustainability team’s web page.