Apply for a Smart Water Choices exemption

Residential and business customers who are unable to comply with the Smart Water Choices are required to apply for an exemption using the following form. Exemption requests will be assessed on an individual basis.

We will contact you via email to let you know the outcome of your request. If approved, you will receive a confirmation email which will serve as your exemption approval.

Automatic exemptions

In some instances automatic exemptions apply. Automatic exemptions apply to the following activities and can be undertaken at any time, unless specified.

Activity	Automatic exemption
Bore water	The use of bore water or water from a recycled water system.
Rainwater tanks	The use of rainwater provided that any storage tank or dam is not topped up from, or switched to, Hunter Water's drinking water supply.
Lawns and gardens	The watering of lawns and gardens before 10am and after 4pm on any day using a sprinkler, irrigation system or a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle.
New turf and gardens	The use of sprinklers or watering systems for the establishment of new lawn and gardens for fourteen (14) days from the date of installation.
Nurseries, landscapers, some sporting fields	The use of a hand held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, sprinklers or other watering systems by commercial nurseries, market gardeners, commercial growers, landscapers, mobile garden contractors and persons responsible for the maintenance of community gardens, bowling greens, cricket wickets, golf tees and greens, croquet, hockey, tennis and racing surfaces.
Fire fighting	The use of fire hoses for firefighting purposes, hazard reduction purposes or fire service testing.
Paths, driveways, hard surfaces	Spot cleaning with a hose of paths, driveways and other hard surfaces when cleaning with water is necessary for purposes (readily identifiable to an authorised person) relating to a safety, a health, or an emergency incident, or a construction activity, or due to surface discolouration. For the use of water under this exclusion the hose used must be fitted with a trigger nozzle unless it is used to supply high pressure water cleaning equipment.
Vehicles	Washing of vehicles or vessels of any type, using a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, high pressure water cleaning equipment, or a bucket and sponge (or similar arrangement).
Boats	The use of water for flushing inboard and outboard boat engines by means of a hose fitted with an appropriate flushing device. The use of water by means of a hose fitted with a trigger or high-pressure water cleaning equipment for cleaning bilges or essential safety components on boat trailers, including wheels and brakes.
Buildings	The washing of building structures, including windows, walls, gutters and roofing using high pressure water cleaning equipment or hose fitted with a trigger nozzle.
Pools	The use of water by means of an attended hose fitted with a trigger nozzle for topping up water in pools to replace water lost through normal use conditions including evaporation.
Dust suppression	The use of water for dust suppression but only where there is no alternative water source reasonably available at the location. Where a dust incident involves hazardous dust (eg asbestos), use of water must comply with the applicable incident response guidelines for the suppression of the specific hazardous substance involved.
People and pets	The use of water for the purpose of cooling people or animals.

Complete this form if you wish to apply for a Smart Water Choices exemption.

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Apply for a Smart Water Choices exemption

Automatic exemptions

Your contact details

Property and account details

Exemption activity

Statement

Apply for a Smart Water Choices exemption

Automatic exemptions

When does an exemption automatically apply?

Your contact details

Property and account details

Exemption activity

Statement