Tighter Water Restrictions Announced for Adelaide

South Australian Premier Mike Rann said new enhanced Level Three water restrictions would now be applied as drought conditions continue. People will only be able to use sprinklers in their gardens for six hours a week on either a Saturday or Sunday, bringing South Australia “broadly in line with restrictions currently in place in other states”.

“While I’m pleased many South Australians are heeding the message to reduce their watering habits, this severe drought looks set to roll on through a very hot summer,” Mr Rann said.

“Much more needs to be done to save the little water we have allocated to us.”

“Adelaide Hills’ reservoirs are currently at 78 percent. The back-up supply is Hume and Dartmouth dams which are at 22 percent and 16 percent respectively.

Under the new enhanced Level Three water restrictions, sprinkler systems can be used on one day a week for three hours in the morning or evening – even numbered houses 5am to 8am and 8pm to 11pm on Saturday and the same hours for odd numbered properties on a Sunday.

Hand-held hoses fitted with trigger nozzle or drip-watering systems can only be used before 8am or after 8pm any day. Previously these could have been used at any time.

Sprinkler systems can only be used once a week between 8pm and 8am on sporting grounds.

“While these restrictions are much more onerous, we believe they are in sensible proportion to the drought conditions we face at present,” Mr Rann said.