If there is a water restriction in place in your area, the water restrictions apply to all residents, visitors and businesses. However, there may be times where we will grant an exception where one of the below criteria is met:

• Significant adverse financial impact
• Special needs of the customer
• Avoid or minimise permanent physical damage to a building or structure
• Avoid public health, wellbeing or safety
• Avoid serious health and safety consequences of an individual application
• Avoid or minimise adverse effects resulting in permanent or irreversible damage to a public or private asset of historical, botanic or ecological significance

If you haven't already done so, you can check the water restriction guidelines in your area here before requesting an exemption. 

Request exemption

There are four levels of water restriction which can be applied depending on the severity of the water shortage. Each stage has a set of rules about how people can and can't use water when a water restriction is in place. You can see the four stages of water restriction guidelines here.

Water restrictions occur due to multiple factors including low rainfall, drought, significant demand on water supply, and too much rainfall in a short period of time. This causes waterways to turn very muddy, leading to difficulty in treating the water supply.

Water restrictions are put in place when normal (unrestricted) customer demand may cause issues supplying essential water requirements for all customers. Water restrictions are used to make sure that there is enough water for essential customers' needs under all conditions.

Water restrictions are used to lower non-essential water use and prevent drinking water shortages. For example, Stage 1 restrictions aim to reduce non-essential water by 20 per cent. Stage 2 restrictions include allocated watering days and aim to further reduce non-essential use of water, to ensure water is available to residents, visitors, and businesses.

This ensures that there is enough water to meet essential customer requirements even when river flows or dam levels get very low.

The time a water restriction is in place will vary depending on essential water requirements.  As the weather changes from season to season, and can vary each year, if conditions continue to be unusually dry, river levels/dam levels may continue to fall and further restrictions may be required, or current restriction may last longer than usual. If the water restriction is a result of too much rainfall, causing waterways to turn muddy leading to difficulty in treating the supply, these restrictions are generally only short lasting.

If conditions improve, the water restrictions are assessed to determine if they can be removed, decreased or if they need to remain in place. 

A dedicated team monitor the 59 water supply systems across Tasmania all year round to make sure supply can meet needs.

Some towns may need to be placed on water restrictions because of different factors to other towns. Each of Tasmania's water catchment areas and water supply is unique and may vary in size depending on the demand of an area, especially during peak tourism seasons.  This will result in certain supply areas being affected in different ways.

When water restrictions are in place, the variable amount our customers are billed is dependent on the water they use, therefore this amount will still be relative to the amount of water used during the restriction period.  The fixed charges continue to cover the cost of maintaining infrastructure, servicing the supply and the removal of wastewater.

We assess water security by comparing conditions in our catchments – such as streamflow and dam levels – against trigger levels. When conditions are unusually dry, we may restrict some water uses to ensure that we can continue to supply essential water needs for customers.

We assess water flows and dam levels weekly during drier periods to check if any water saving measures are required, which is when we might need to impose water restrictions in some areas.

Over summer 2024 - 2025, we are developing an interactive way to inform you about water availability and any restrictions in your area.  

if you are unable to find your supply area, check some of the areas close to you to see if they are serviced by the same supply area. 

If you are still unable to find your supply area, not all our water supply systems are visible at this stage, more will be added soon, as we prioritise those areas that are at risk of being drier than usual over the summer period.