restrictions
Seqwater has activated the region's drought response plan and we encourage everyone to save water.         
There are no current water restrictions for Brisbane, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley. Scenic Rim or Somerset. 

Current conditions by region

Water restrictions in the Scenic Rim were lifted on Wednesday, March 31, following recent rain.

Medium-level restrictions were introduced to Beaudesert, Boonah, Kalbar, Mt Alford, Aratula, Rathdowney, Kooralbyn and Canungra last year to protect local water storages. These areas are not connected to the SEQ Water Grid* and rely on local water sources.

Despite the rain in some catchments, South East Queensland remain in drought response.

Voluntary water conservation measures remain in place across the region to help protect water storages as we head into the traditional dry season.

We’d like to thank the Scenic Rim community for your water saving efforts so far and encourage you to keep up the good work even after restrictions are lifted. It’s important people keep up their handwashing and hygiene behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are many other ways to reduce your water use.

*As Peak Crossing, Warrill View and Harrisville are connected to the SEQ Water Grid, water restrictions haven’t applied to these communities and won’t until the combined level of the SEQ Water Grid dams fall below 50 per cent.
Summary of the water sources for water supply schemes in the Scenic Rim:
Supply Scheme
 Bulk Water Source
Beaudesert Logan River, via Maroon Dam
Rathdowney
 Logan River, via Maroon Dam
Kooralbyn
 Logan River, via Maroon Dam
Kalbar, Boonah, Aratula and Mt Alford
 Reynolds Creek, via Moogerah Dam
Canungra Canungra Creek
More information
There are currently no water restrictions in Brisbane, however if we all do a little bit now, it could make a big difference down the track.

Bulk water supplier, Seqwater has enacted the Drought Response Plan for South East Queensland (SEQ).

Under the region’s Drought Response Plan, water restrictions are not required across South East Queensland until the combined Water Grid dam levels fall below 50 per cent.

We’d like to say thank you for your water saving efforts to date and encourage you to keep up the great work. It is important people keep up their handwashing and hygiene behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are many other ways to reduce your water use.

Simple ways to save water inside include:
  • taking shorter showers,
  • turning the tap off while brushing your teeth, and
  • only doing full loads in the dishwasher or washing machine.
Outside the house:
  • avoid watering between 8am and 4pm,
  • mulch your garden to retain moisture, and
  • water less often but for a little longer to encourage deeper root growth.
More information:
There are currently no water restrictions in Ipswich, however if we all do a little bit now, it could make a big difference down the track.

Bulk water supplier, Seqwater has enacted the Drought Response Plan for South East Queensland (SEQ).

Under the region’s Drought Response Plan, water restrictions are not required across South East Queensland until the combined Water Grid dam levels fall below 50 per cent.

We’d like to say thank you for your water saving efforts to date and encourage you to keep up the great work. It is important people keep up their handwashing and hygiene behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are many other ways to reduce your water use.

Simple ways to save water inside include:
  • taking shorter showers,
  • turning the tap off while brushing your teeth, and
  • only doing full loads in the dishwasher or washing machine.
Outside the house:
  • avoid watering between 8am and 4pm,
  • mulch your garden to retain moisture, and
  • water less often but for a little longer to encourage deeper root growth.
More information:
There are currently no water restrictions in the Lockyer Valley, however if we all do a little bit now, it could make a big difference down the track.
Bulk water supplier, Seqwater has enacted the Drought Response Plan for South East Queensland (SEQ). Water supply in the Lockyer Valley is not connected to the SEQ Water Grid and relies on Seqwater’s water treatment plant at Lowood.

Under the region’s Drought Response Plan, water restrictions are not required across South East Queensland until the combined Water Grid dam levels fall below 50 per cent. 

We thank the Lockyer Valley community for your water saving efforts to date and encourage you to keep up the great work. It’s important that people keep up their handwashing and hygiene behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are many other ways to reduce your water use.

Simple ways to save water inside include:
  • taking shorter showers,
  • turning the tap off while brushing your teeth, and
  • only doing full loads in the dishwasher or washing machine.
Outside the house:
  • avoid watering between 8am and 4pm,
  • mulch your garden to retain moisture, and
  • water less often but for a little longer to encourage deeper root growth.
More information:
Summary of the Lockyer Valley's water supply scheme:
Supply Scheme
 Bulk Water Source
Lowood (supplies Lowood, Fernvale, Glenore Grove, Gatton, Helidon, Withcott, Grantham, Forest Hill and Laidley)
 Wivenhoe Dam
There are currently no water restrictions in Somerset, however if we all do a little bit now, it could make a big difference down the track.

Bulk water supplier, Seqwater has now enacted the Drought Response Plan for South East Queensland (SEQ).

Somerset isn’t connected to the SEQ Water Grid and relies on its own water storages and water treatment plants.

Seqwater operates six water treatment plants in Somerset which supply different parts of the region and are located at Lowood, Kilcoy, Somerset Dam township, Esk, Jimna and Linville.

Jimna entered level one drought response in May 2020, when Seqwater advised flows in Yabba Creek had dropped and water stopped flowing over the weir and into the ‘Big Hole’. Thanks to the recent rainfall water is flowing again, and while it has boosted Jimna's water supply it has also impacted operations at Seqwater's Jimna Water Treatment Plant. Seqwater is maintaining the town water supply using tankers until the treatment plant can be returned to normal operations. 

Under the region’s Drought Response Plan, water restrictions are not required across South East Queensland until the combined Water Grid dam levels fall below 50 per cent.

We thank the Somerset community for your water saving efforts to date and encourage you to keep up the great work. It is important people keep up their handwashing and hygiene behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are many other ways to reduce your water use.

Simple ways to save water inside include:
  • taking shorter showers,
  • turning the tap off while brushing your teeth, and
  • only doing full loads in the dishwasher or washing machine.
Outside the house:
  • avoid watering between 8am and 4pm,
  • mulch your garden to retain moisture, and
  • water less often but for a little longer to encourage deeper root growth.
More information:
Summary of the water sources for water supply schemes in Somerset:
Supply Scheme
 Bulk Water Source
Jimna The Big Hole, via Yabba Creek
Linville
 Brisbane River at Linville
Kilcoy
 Somerset Dam
Somerset
 Somerset Dam
Esk/Toogoolawah Wivenhoe Dam
Lowood (supplies Lowood, Fernvale, Glenore Grove, Gatton, Helidon, Withcott, Grantham, Forest Hill and Laidley)
 Wivenhoe Dam
 

 restrictions

A quick guide to restrictions

The below is a summary only and does not contain all the restrictions. For full details, download the Water Restriction Schedules.

Activity
 What can you do?
 What can't you do?

For full details, download the Water Restriction Schedule 


Watering established lawns and gardens - Residential and non-residential premises

You can:

water established gardens and lawns at the following times:

  • odd numbered properties between 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
  • even or un-numbered properties between 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday

You can use:

  • a hand-held hose with a twist or trigger nozzle
  • Sprinklers with a timer

You can use a bucket or watering can at any time.

You can't:

  • use more than one hose at a time on a property
  • use a hose without a twist or trigger nozzle or hoses which are not hand-held (e.g. left to run hooked on a tree)
  • use a soaker hose
  • use sprinklers without a timer
Watering newly established lawns and gardens - Residential and non-residential premises

You can:

water new lawns and gardens using a sprinkler with a timer and hand-held hose with a twist or trigger nozzle for:

  • one hour only on the day of establishment, or
  • for one hour in total each day between 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm for 21 days after the date of establishment.

Where suitable fit-for-purpose alternative water supplies can be used, this must be used prior to using potable water supply.

General outdoor cleaning - Residential and non-residential premises

You can:

use water for general outdoor cleaning at any time using: 

  • a bucket
  • a hand-held hose
  • a high-pressure water cleaning unit.

General outdoor cleaning includes cleaning of:

  • vehicles
  • external surfaces of a building
  • materials and equipment
  • animal pet pens and enclosures.

Cleaning for health and safety is permitted at any time by any suitable means.

You can't

  • use potable water to remove loose items that could be easily removed by a broom, blower or similar device
     

 

 
Cleaning paved surfaces - Residential and non-residential premises

You can:

  • only use potable water to clean paved surfaces when dealing with significant soiling or to prevent material risks to health, safety or the environment
  • If this is the case, cleaning can only occur using a bucket, hand-held hose or a high-pressure water cleaning unit

You can’t:

  • use potable water to remove loose items that could be easily removed by a broom, blower or similar device.
Private pool and spa top ups - Residential

You can:

top up swimming pools and spas at any time if:

  • a down pipe diverter or rainwater tank is used, 
  • a pool cover is in place when pool is not in use, or
  • the pool is Climate Care certified
Water wastage - Residential and non-residential premises

You can:

  • help water saving efforts by repairing internal leaks as quickly as possible, such as dripping taps or leaking toilets.

 

 

 

You can't:

  • have leaking taps and plumbing fittings and overflowing containers or structures (including pools, spas and rainwater tanks)
  • allow water to flow onto roads, pathways and driveways during irrigation.

Activity
 What can you do?
 What can't you do?

For full details, download the Water Restriction Schedule

Watering established lawns and gardens - Residential and non-residential premises

You can:

water established gardens and lawns with a hand-held hose with a twist or trigger nozzle at the following times:

  • Odd numbered properties between 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm on Tuesday and Saturday
  • Even or un-numbered properties between 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm on Wednesday and Sunday.

You can use a bucket or watering can at any time.

You can't:

  • use sprinklers
  • use more than one hose at a time on a property
  • use a hose without a twist or trigger nozzle or hoses which are not hand-held

 
Watering newly established lawns and gardens - Residential and non-residential premises

You can:

water new lawns and gardens using a sprinkler with a timer and a hand-held hose with a twist or trigger nozzle for:

  • one hour only on the day of establishment,
  • your permitted watering times above,or
  • for one hour total each day between 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm for 14 days after the date of establishment.

Where suitable fit-for-purpose alternative water supplies can be used, this must be used prior to using potable water supply.

General outdoor cleaning - Residential and non-residential premises

You can:

use water for general outdoor cleaning at the following times:

  • odd numbered properties - Tuesday and Saturday
  • even or un-numbered properties - Wednesday and Sunday

You can use:

  • a bucket,
  • a hand‐held hose or
  • a high‐pressure water cleaning unit.

General outdoor cleaning includes cleaning of:

  • vehicles
  • external surfaces of a building
  • materials and equipment
  • animal pet pens and enclosures.

Cleaning for health and safety is permitted at any time by any suitable means.
Cleaning paved surfaces - Residential and non-residential premises

You can:

  • only use potable water to clean paved surfaces when dealing with significant soiling or to prevent material risks to health, safety or the environment.
  • If this is the case, cleaning can only occur using a bucket, hand-held hose or a high-pressure water cleaning unit.

 You can't:

  • use potable water to remove loose items that could be easily removed by a broom, blower or similar device.

 

 
Private pool and spa top ups - Residential

You can:

top up swimming pools and spas at any time if:

  • a down pipe diverter or rainwater tank is use,
  • a pool cover is in place when pool is not in use, or
  • the pool is Climate Care certified.
Water wastage - Residential and non-residential premises

You can:

  • help water saving efforts by repairing internal leaks as quickly as possible, such as dripping taps or leaking toilets.

 

 

 

You can't:

  • have leaking taps and plumbing fittings and overflowing containers or structures (including pools, spas and rainwater tanks)
  • allow water to flow onto roads, pathways and driveways during irrigation.

Activity
 What can you do?
 What can't you do?

For full details, download the Water Restriction Schedule

Watering established lawns and gardens - Residential and non-residential premises

You can:

use a bucket or watering can to water established gardens and lawns at the following times:

  • Odd numbered properties - 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm Tuesday and Saturday
  • Even or un-numbered properties - 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm Wednesday and Sunday.

You can't:

  • use sprinklers or hoses of any kind.

 

 

 
Watering newly established gardens and lawns - Residential and non-residential premises

You can:

use a bucket or watering can to water newly established gardens and lawns at the following times:

  • odd numbered properties - 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm Tuesday and Saturday
  • even or un-numbered properties - 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm Wednesday and Sunday.

 

 You can't:

  • use sprinklers or hoses of any kind.
General outdoor cleaning - Residential and non-residential premises

You can:

use water for general outdoor cleaning at the following times:

  • odd numbered properties - 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm Tuesday and Saturday
  • even or un-numbered properties - 4am - 8am and 4pm - 8pm Wednesday and Sunday.

You can use:

  • a bucket or
  • a high-pressure water cleaning unit.

General outdoor cleaning includes cleaning of:

  • vehicles
  • external surfaces of a building
  • materials and equipment
  • animal pet pens and enclosures.

Cleaning for health and safety is permitted at any time by any suitable means.

 You can't:

  • use a hose for general cleaning of hard surfaces such as paths, driveways and paved area
Cleaning paved surfaces - Residential and non-residential premises

You can:

  • only use town water supplies to clean paved surfaces for health and safety reasons, at any time by any suitable means.

You can't

  • use potable water to remove loose items that could be easily removed by a broom, blower or similar device.
Private pool and spa top ups - Residential

You can:

top up swimming pools and spas at any time if:

  • a down pipe diverter or rainwater tank is use,
  • a pool cover is in place when pool is not in us, or
  • the pool is Climate Care certified. 
Water wastage - Residential and non-residential premises

You can:

  • help water saving efforts by repairing internal leaks as quickly as possible, such as dripping taps or leaking toilets.

 

You can't:

  • have leaking taps and plumbing fittings and overflowing containers or structures (including pools, spas and rainwater tanks)
  • allow water to flow onto roads, pathways and driveways during irrigation.

Activity
 What can you do?
 What can't you do?

For full details, download the Water Restriction Schedule

Watering established lawns and gardens - Residential and non-residential premises

There is a total outdoor watering ban.

 

You can't:

  • use sprinklers, hoses, watering cans or buckets
Watering newly established lawns and gardens - Residential and non-residential premises
 There is a total outdoor watering ban.

You can't:

  • use sprinklers, hoses, watering cans or buckets
General outdoor cleaning - Residential and non-residential premises

You can:

use water for general outdoor cleaning, only when using a bucket filled directly from a tap to:

  • spot clean a surface to remove potentially paint or surface damaging mark, 
  • clean only vehicle mirrors, vehicle lights, glass and number plates to maintain safe operation and satisfy number plate visibility requirements,
  • clean other such parts of a vehicle to comply with statutory or regulatory operation, or
  • flush an inboard or outboard motor or vehicle brake to prevent corrosion and maintain safe operation.

Cleaning for health and safety is permitted at any time by any suitable means.

 
Cleaning paved surfaces - Residential and non-residential premises

You can:

  • only use town water supplies to clean paved surfaces for health and safety reasons, at any time by any suitable means.

You can’t:

  • use potable water to remove loose items that could be easily removed by a broom, blower or similar device.
Private pool and spa top ups - Residential

Town water is not permitted to be used for swimming pool and spa top ups.

Water wastage - Residential and non-residential premises

You can:

  • help water saving efforts by repairing internal leaks as quickly as possible, such as dripping taps or leaking toilets.

 

You can't:

  • have leaking taps and plumbing fittings and overflowing containers or structures (including pools, spas and rainwater tanks)

Activity
 What can you do?
 What can't you do?

For full details, download the Water Restriction Schedule

Watering established lawns and gardens - Residential and non-residential premises
 There is a total outdoor watering ban.

You can't:

  • use sprinklers, hoses, watering cans or buckets.
Watering newly established lawns and gardens - Residential and non-residential premises
 There is a total outdoor watering ban.

You can't:

  • use sprinklers, hoses, watering cans or buckets.
General outdoor cleaning - Residential and non-residential premises

You can:

Use water for general outdoor cleaning, only when using a bucket filled directly from a tap to:

  • spot clean a surface to remove potentially paint or surface damaging mark,
  • clean only vehicle mirrors, vehicle lights, glass and number plates to maintain safe operation and satisfy number plate visibility requirements, or
  • clean other such parts of a vehicle as required to comply with statutory or regulatory obligations.

Water can also be used to flush an inboard or outboard motor or vehicle brakes to prevent corrosion and maintain safe operation.

Cleaning for health and safety is permitted at any time by any suitable means.

Cleaning paved surfaces - Residential and non-residential premises

 You can:

  • only use town water supplies to clean paved surfaces for health and safety reasons, at any time by any suitable means.

 You can't:

  • use potable water to remove loose items that could be easily removed by a broom, blower or similar device.
Private pool and spa top ups - Residential premises

Town water is not permitted to be used for swimming pool and spa top ups.

Water wastage - Residential and non-residential premises

You can:

  • help water saving efforts by repairing internal leaks as quickly as possible, such as dripping taps or leaking toilets.

 

You can't:

  • have leaking taps and plumbing fittings and overflowing containers or structures.

Dam levels

Seqwater manages the dams in South East Queensland and update their dam level information every 24 hours.
View dam levels