Business water restrictions

Plant nursery

Carting water is banned from both the Tyalgum and Uki Water Supplies.

There are currently no water restrictions.

Business permits will no longer be issued. Businesses with a Level 2 Restriction permit are now expired.

View ways you can save water around your business. You can also view residential water restrictions.

Restriction levels

Level 1 - If the dam reaches around 85% capacity

Businesses essentially have to comply with all residential water restrictions with the exception that they can:

  • water gardens (60 minutes a day) between 5-7 am BUT no watering of lawns
  • wash windows (using bucket)
  • wash passenger vehicle using bucket or with a low-flow pressure cleaner.

And for health and safety reasons or for sale/lease, businesses can:

  • wash the external elements of their building with a low-flow pressure cleaner
  • wash a paved area, footpath or driveway with a low-flow pressure cleaner.

Find useful tips and helpful ways to reduce water use on our water saving for business page, including how to request a free water audit.

Public facilities

Banned
  • Watering sports grounds, playing fields and golf fairways.
Limited use
  • Cricket pitches, tennis courts, bowls and golf greens, public gardens – sprinklers or hand-held hoses between 5-7 am for 60 minutes/day.
  • Public swimming pool – top-ups permitted.
Allowed
  • Bathrooms, toilets, urinals, kitchens, barbecues and laundromats should have WELS-rated fittings.
  • Urinals must be flush-on-demand only.
  • Public outdoor showers and taps.

Level 1 restrictions by business type

If you have any questions or your business type isn't listed below, please contact Council.

Businesses with an Exemption Permit from Council and those marked with an asterisk above must log their water use. Please use the Log of water usage(PDF, 105KB).

Car dealers, including mobile car detailers
  • Can wash cars - permitted when using low-flow, high pressure cleaner with on/off trigger nozzle (or anytime with a bucket).
  • Must log water use.
Carpet cleaners
  • Can operate when cleaning house for sale/lease by registered cleaning business, only with Council approval.
Commercial animal-based businesses, including mobile dog washes
  • Can water their animals and wash out enclosures with a low-flow pressure cleaner.
  • Mobile dog washes can wash dogs with a hand-held hose with on/off trigger nozzle.
Construction businesses
  • Can use low-flow pressure cleaner on site and water to mix concrete, etc.
Hotels and motels
  • Must display water conservation messages.
Irrigators
  • Must seek Council approval of irrigation times.
Mobile window cleaners
  • Can use buckets only.
Outdoor maintenance and cleaning businesses, such as house and driveway washing
  • Can wash outdoor elements of building for sale/lease/health and safety reason only using a low-flow pressure cleaner with on/off trigger nozzle.
  • Must log water use.
Plant-based businesses, such as nurseries, turf farms
  • Can water using sprinklers or sprays for two hours a day between 5-7am or 5-7pm.
Roadworks
  • Can use water (preferably recycled) for dust suppression and compaction only.
Taxis and passenger vehicles
  • Can wash vehicles anytime using low-flow pressure cleaner with on/off trigger nozzle or with a bucket.
  • Must log water use.
Water carters
  • Not allowed to transport water out of the Tweed Shire.
Water play facilities/parks, including water slides
  • Can only operate if recirculating water.
  • Must log water use.

Level 2 - If the dam reaches around 75% capacity

Businesses essentially have to comply with all residential water restrictions with the exception that they can:

  • water gardens (30 minutes a day) between 5-7 am BUT no watering of lawns
  • wash windows (using bucket).

And for health and safety reasons only, businesses can:

  • wash the external elements of their building with a low-flow pressure cleaner
  • wash a paved area, footpath or driveway with a low-flow pressure cleaner
  • wash passenger vehicle using bucket or with a low-flow pressure cleaner.

Find useful tips and helpful ways to reduce water use on our water saving for business page, including how to request a free water audit.

Public facilities

Banned
  • Watering sports grounds, playing fields and golf fairways.
  • Beach showers.
  • Taps at boat ramps.
Limited use
  • Cricket pitches, tennis courts, bowls and golf greens, public gardens – sprinklers or hand-held hoses between 5-7 am for 30 minutes/day.
  • Public swimming pool – top-ups before 9 am or after 4 pm using hand-held hose with on/off trigger nozzle only.
Allowed
  • Bathrooms, toilets, urinals, kitchens, barbecues and laundromats should have WELS-rated fittings.
  • Urinals must be flush-on-demand only.

Level 2 restrictions by business type

If you have any questions or your business type isn't listed below, please contact Council.

Businesses with an Exemption Permit from Council and those marked with an asterisk above must log their water use. Please use the Log of water usage(PDF, 105KB).

Car dealers, including mobile car detailers
  • Can wash cars every second day between 6-8am using low-flow, high pressure cleaner with on/off trigger nozzle (or anytime with a bucket).
  • Must log water use.
Carpet cleaners
  • Can operate when cleaning house for sale/lease by registered cleaning business, only with Council approval.
Commercial animal-based businesses, including mobile dog washes
  • Can water their animals and wash out enclosures with a low-flow pressure cleaner.
  • Mobile dog washes can wash dogs with a hand-held hose with on/off trigger nozzle.
Construction businesses
  • Can use low-flow pressure cleaner on site and water to mix concrete, etc.
Hotels and motels
  • Must display water conservation messages.
Irrigators
  • Must seek Council approval of irrigation times.
Mobile window cleaners
  • Can use buckets only.
Outdoor maintenance and cleaning businesses, such as house and driveway washing
  • Can wash outdoor elements of building for sale/lease/health and safety reason only using a low-flow pressure cleaner with on/off trigger nozzle.
  • Must log water use.
Plant-based businesses, such as nurseries, turf farms
  • Can water using sprinklers or sprays for one hour a day between 5-7am or 5-7pm.
Roadworks
  • Can use water (preferably recycled) for dust suppression and compaction only.
Taxis and passenger vehicles
  • Can wash vehicles using low-flow pressure cleaner with on/off trigger nozzle every second day between 6-8am or with a bucket anytime.
  • Must log water use.
Water carters
  • Not allowed to transport water out of the Tweed Shire.
Water play facilities/parks, including water slides
  • Can only operate if recirculating water.
  • Must log water use.

Level 3 - If the dam reaches around 65% capacity

At Level 3 water restrictions, water use for aesthetic purposes (that is, to make things look good) is essentially restricted. Value-add water uses, such as for food production and processing, are less affected.

All businesses have an obligation to not waste water but reduce use wherever possible.

High-volume water users (> 10 ML/year) must have a water efficiency management plan approved by Council. Council may audit water use and require sub meters to be installed on high-water use equipment.

While businesses can apply to Council for an Exemption Permit, they should not expect to be granted one. If a permit is granted, all water use must be logged.

Find useful tips and helpful ways to reduce water use on our water saving for business page, including how to request a free water audit.

Public facilities

Banned
  • Public swimming pool top-ups (can maintain a minimum water level to avoid structural damage only). Must log water use.
  • Watering sports grounds, playing fields, golf fairways.
  • Beach showers and taps at boat ramps.
  • Taps on fish cleaning tables.
Limited use
  • Sprinklers or hand-held hoses (5-7 am or 5-7 pm).
  • Cricket pitches, tennis courts, bowls and golf greens (15 minutes/day).
Allowed
  • Bathrooms, toilets, urinals, kitchens, barbecues and laundromats should have WELS-rated fittings. Urinals must be flush-on-demand only.

All businesses - banned uses

  • Existing swimming pool/spa top-ups (you can maintain a minimum water level to avoid structural damage only). Must log water use.
  • New swimming pools (need Council approval to fill with enough water to avoid structural damage only. Then you can maintain a minimum water level to avoid structural damage only). Must log water use.
  • Fountains, ponds, water features, outdoor aquariums (can maintain a minimum water level to keep fish alive only).
  • Lawn and garden watering.
  • Sport and playing fields, golf fairways watering.
  • Washing paved areas (allowed for health and safety reasons only with low-flow pressure cleaner).
  • Irrigation from the town supply.

All businesses - limited uses

  • New turf – Hand-held hose with on/off trigger nozzle 30 minutes on day of install then 15 mins only on odds/evens* system for next 7 days before 9 am or after 4 pm (that is, water only four times in total).
Odds/evens watering days

* Odd/even days correspond to odd/even street numbers, i.e. odd street numbers permitted on each odd date of the month and vice versa. No watering allowed on the 31st of the month.

Individual business types - restricted uses

Hotels/motels may be required to develop a Water Efficiency Management Plan. They also must display water conservation messages in all rooms. If they have swimming pools and spas they can maintain only a minimum water level in those facilities to avoid structural damage.

Water Play businesses – Can only top-up and operate if using recirculated water. Must log water use.

Animal-based businesses, including mobile dog washes - can water their animals, clean pet enclosures with low-flow pressure cleaner, wash animals/dogs with hand-help hose with trigger nozzle only.

Plant-based businesses, such as nurseries, turf farms - can water using sprinklers or sprays for 30 minutes a day between 5-7 am or 5-7 pm. Need Council approval for other times. Must log water use.

Fixed premises car washes - water must be recirculated. Low-flow pressure cleaners with trigger control only. Must log water use.

Motor vehicle dealers and car detailing – wash vehicles using low-flow pressure cleaners with trigger control every second day between 6-8 am (odds/evens system) or using buckets anytime. Must log water use.

Passenger vehicle businesses (taxi, food transport, ambulance, garbage trucks) high-pressure cleaners with trigger control every second day between 6-8 am (odds/evens system) or using buckets anytime. Must log water use.

Outdoor maintenance and cleaning businesses, such as house and driveway washing, can wash for health and safety reasons only.

Mobile window cleaners can use buckets only.

Roadworks use water (preferably recycled) for dust suppression and compaction only.

Construction businesses can use water for essential tasks only via low-flow pressure cleaners and for mixing products such as concrete and plaster etc.

Uses requiring Council approval

Carpet cleaners – when house for sale or lease only.

No restrictions

Graziers – stock watering only.

Level 4 - If the dam reaches around 55% capacity

At Level 4 water restrictions, water use for aesthetic purposes (that is, to make things look good) is essentially banned. Value-add water uses, such as for food production and processing, are less affected.

All businesses have an obligation to not waste water but reduce use wherever possible.

High-volume water users (> 5 ML/year) must have a water efficiency management plan approved by Council. Council may audit water use and require sub meters to be installed on high-water use equipment.

Any requests for exemption permits will be rigorously assessed and applicants should not expect to be granted an exemption under Level 4 restrictions.

Find useful tips and helpful ways to reduce water use on our water saving for business page, including how to request a free water audit.

Public facilities

Banned
  • Public swimming pool top-ups (can maintain a minimum water level to avoid structural damage only). Must log water use.
  • Watering sports grounds, playing fields, golf fairways, cricket pitches, tennis courts, bowls and golf greens.
  • Beach showers and taps at boat ramps.
  • Taps on fish cleaning tables.
Allowed
  • Bathrooms, toilets, urinals, kitchens, barbecues and laundromats should have WELS-rated fittings. Urinals must be flush-on-demand only.

All businesses - banned uses

  • Existing swimming pool/spa top-ups (you can maintain a minimum water level to avoid structural damage only). Must log water use.
  • New swimming pools (need Council approval to fill with enough water to avoid structural damage only. Then you can maintain a minimum water level to avoid structural damage only). Must log water use.
  • Fountains, ponds, water features, outdoor aquariums (can maintain a minimum water level to keep fish alive only).
  • Lawn and garden watering.
  • Sporting facilities including playing fields, golf fairways, cricket pitches, tennis courts, bowling and golf greens.
  • New turf install.
  • Car washing.
  • Washing paved areas (allowed for health and safety reasons only with low-flow pressure cleaner).
  • Irrigation from the town supply.

Individual business types - businesses unable to operate

  • Water play facilities
  • Mobile car washing and detailing
  • Outdoor maintenance and cleaning businesses, such as house and driveway washing
  • Mobile window cleaners
  • Carpet cleaners

Individual business types - restricted uses

Hotels/ motels may be required to develop a Water Efficiency Management Plan. They also must display water conservation messages in all rooms. If they have swimming pools and spas they can maintain only a minimum water level in those facilities to avoid structural damage.

Commercial animal-based businesses, including mobile dog washes - can water their animals, clean pet enclosures with low-flow pressure cleaner, wash animals/dogs with hand-help hose with trigger nozzle only.

Plant-based businesses, such as nurseries, turf farms - can water using sprinklers or sprays for 30 minutes a day between 5-7 am or 5-7 pm. Need Council approval for other times.

Fixed premises car washes - water must be recirculated. Low-flow pressure cleaners with trigger control only. Must log water use.

Passenger vehicle businesses (taxi, food transport, ambulance, garbage trucks) - wash vehicles for health and safety reasons only using bucket anytime. Must log water use. 

No restrictions

Graziers – stock watering only.

Fines for not complying with water restrictions

Failing to comply with water restrictions may result in a $220 fine. Repeated misuse of water may result in the water service being restricted and in extreme cases, disconnected.

Please contact Council to report any breach of water restrictions.

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