Australians dob in more than 4,000 people for breaking strict water restrictions but only FOUR fines

Australians dob in more than 4,000 people for breaking strict water restrictions – but only FOUR have been fined

  • Level 2 water restrictions were introduced in Sydney on December 10, 2019 
  • More than 4,000 complaints of breaches were received in the last month 
  • Sydney Water, however, confirmed that only four fines have been handed out 

More than 4,000 people have been dobbed in for breaking water restrictions in one month – but only four people received fines. 

Tough new Level 2 water restrictions were introduced in Sydney on December 10 after prolonged drought caused dam levels to drop dramatically. 

Sydney Water confirmed to Daily Mail Australia they handed out just four fines adding up to $880 even though they received 4082 complaints since the water restrictions were implemented. 

 Tough new Level 2 water restrictions were introduced in Sydney on December 10 after prolonged drought caused dam levels to drop dramatically (stock image) 

Sydney's main supply of drinking water, Warragamba Dam (pictured), was at its lowest level in 15 years on Boxing Day

Sydney’s main supply of drinking water, Warragamba Dam (pictured), was at its lowest level in 15 years on Boxing Day 

LEVEL 2 WATER RESTRICTIONS

Gardens can only be watered before 10am or after 4pm with a watering can or bucket

Smart and drip irrigation systems may only be used for 15 minutes before 10am or after 4pm

The use of unattended hoses is no longer permitted

Hosing of hard surfaces is not permitted, unless in an emergency

Cars can only be washed with a bucket or at a commercial car wash

A permit is required before filling a pool of any size

Fines of $220 apply for residents and $550 for businesses for breaking the restrictions 

The reason next to no fines have been handed out is the officers from Sydney Water must catch someone in the act of breaking the level 2 water restrictions. 

All reported breaches are investigated by officers, a Sydney Water spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. 

‘If they attend the address provided and do not find someone misusing water, our community water officers will still knock on doors and talk to the customer about the drought, explain the restrictions and give a verbal caution to the potential offender,’ the spokesperson said. 

‘Our primary objective is to educate our customers on the importance of saving water.’ 

The address will then be visited again by officers to check restrictions are not being broken. 

Sydney Water also confirmed that if even if a neighbour films someone breaking water restrictions they will not be fined because the rules states an officer must observe them in person to issue the penalty.  

Sydney’s main supply of drinking water, Warragamba Dam, was at its lowest level in 15 years on Boxing Day. 

Level 3 restrictions are activated usually when the dam levels for the greater Sydney area fall to 30 per cent. 

WaterNSW currently has the dam levels at 43.2 per cent, however, level 3 restrictions could be brought in earlier if the NSW government decides to act sooner. 

Watering gardens is not permitted using a hose under level 2 restrictions (stock image)

Watering gardens is not permitted using a hose under level 2 restrictions (stock image) 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk