Western Water advises that as of 1:00am on Monday 1 December 2008 Stage 3a water restrictions will be in place for Lancefield residents. This brings Lancefield residents in line with the rest of the Western Water region, which has been on stage 3a restrictions since 1 April 2007.
The change to 3a water restrictions is a response to extremely dry conditions. Lancefield's surface water storages - Garden Hut Reservoir and Lancefield Basin - are at the lowest levels on record. The normal filling season has failed to achieve recovery of these storages. On 24 November 2008, the two storages were at 30.3% combined capacity.
From 15 December 2007 to 30 November 2008, Lancefield was on Stage 2 Water Restrictions. The primary difference between Stage 2 and Stage 3a water restrictions is that gardens may only be watered in the morning - between 6:00am and 8:00am - on your specified watering days*. No evening or lawn watering is permitted.
Under Stage 3a restrictions, people aged 70 years and over may water their gardens manually between 8:00am and 10:00am on their specified days*, instead of the earlier time of 6:00am to 8:00am. No exemption is required for this change in watering hours.
Western Water will continue to closely monitor storages and consumption levels to gauge the effectiveness of the restrictions. Water patrols will continue throughout our region to ensure people understand and comply with these restrictions.
If you have any questions concerning restrictions please call Western Water's restrictions hotline on 1300 653 126.
*Properties with an even street number or no street number may water on Saturday and Tuesday; properties with an odd street number may water on Sunday and Wednesday. Watering is NOT permitted on Monday, Thursday and Friday.
Stage 3a water restrictions fact sheet