What are my watering days? In Sydney, the Water Wise Guidelines set times of day rather than fixed days, so you can water on any day as long as you follow the permitted hours and methods. Watering with drinking water is permitted before 10 am and after 4 pm.
What are my watering days: how the rules work
- Water gardens and lawns with drinking water before 10 am or after 4 pm, which avoids the hottest part of the day when much of the water evaporates.
- Run smart or drip irrigation at any time between 10 am and 4 pm, because these systems apply water slowly and directly to the soil.
- Fit hand-held hoses with an instant on-off trigger nozzle, and never leave a hose running unattended.
- Do not hose paths, driveways or other hard surfaces, except for safety or health reasons.
- Stop runoff and overspray onto hard surfaces by adjusting sprinklers and checking them regularly.
These rules apply all year, so there is no special seasonal watering roster to remember unless your water supplier announces extra restrictions.
Where your watering days and times apply
- Sydney homes on mains water, including houses, units and strata properties, follow the Sydney Water Wise Guidelines.
- Lawns and gardens watered by hose, sprinkler or tap timer must stay within the permitted hours for drinking water.
- Smart and drip irrigation systems have more flexible hours, but they must still avoid runoff onto hard surfaces.
- Other cities, such as Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, have their own rules (indicative — check your local water authority).
- Rainwater tanks and recycled water may have different rules (indicative — check with your water supplier or council).
Watering days and times at a glance
| Method | Permitted time | Key rule |
|---|---|---|
| Hand-held hose | Before 10 am or after 4 pm | Instant on-off trigger nozzle; never left running |
| Sprinkler on a tap timer | Before 10 am or after 4 pm | No runoff or overspray onto hard surfaces |
| Smart or drip irrigation | Any time, including 10 am to 4 pm | Apply water slowly and directly to the soil |
| Hosing hard surfaces | Not permitted | Exceptions apply only for safety or health reasons |
Related terms
- Water Wise Guidelines: Sydney Water’s all-year rules on when and how you may water outdoors.
- Trigger nozzle: an instant on-off hose fitting that stops water flowing when you release it; see our garden hose guide.
- Tap timer: a device that starts and stops watering automatically; see tap timers.
- Drip irrigation: low-flow watering at the base of plants; see drip irrigation.
- Sprinkler: a device that spreads water across the lawn; compare wobble tee sprinklers and Hunter irrigation.
FAQ: what are my watering days
What are my watering days in Sydney?
Sydney does not use fixed watering days under the Water Wise Guidelines. You can water on any day if you use drinking water before 10 am or after 4 pm. If extra restrictions are announced, follow the notice from your water supplier.
Can I water my lawn in the middle of the day?
Not by hose or sprinkler with drinking water, because those methods must stay outside 10 am to 4 pm. Smart or drip irrigation may run in that window. Watering early in the morning is usually best, as less water is lost to evaporation.
Do I need a trigger nozzle on my hose?
Yes. The Water Wise Guidelines require hand-held hoses to have an instant on-off trigger nozzle, and you must never leave a hose running unattended. Fitting a nozzle also helps you avoid runoff onto paths and driveways, which is not permitted.
For more on efficient watering, read our drip irrigation guide. If you would rather leave lawn and garden care to us, book garden maintenance in Sydney, and for hoses read our retractable garden hose and hose reels guides.
