Washing boats, jet skis under Sydney’s Stage 2 water restrictions

Sydney Water announced in May that the city was in the grips of one of the driest winters on record, flagging it would need to carefully manage how its reserves were managed.

From today, water restrictions applying to all Sydney Water users lift from Level 1 to Level 2, with an emphasis on limiting the amount of water used outdoors.

So what does that mean for boat owners? In short, if there is no nozzle on the hose you plan to use for washing down any part of the boat, don’t use it or you’ll risk a fine.

Owners are allowed to wash down a boat only if it has been in saltwater – if the vessel has spent time in freshwater, you are not allowed to point a hose at it.

But the washdown also comes with a strict time limit, with owners given only a 10-minute window to complete the job.

Owners can still wash out an outboard engine or exhaust system, but they must use a set of earmuffs or, in the case of a jet ski or an outboard engine fitted with a hose adaptor, a purpose-built flushing device connected to the hose.

Owners are also allowed to fill water tanks on a boat, but they must not leave hoses unattended so they overflow.

Boat owners can also flush out bilges, but again, they will have to use a hose fitted with a nozzle, or a high-pressure cleaner.

What happens if you’re caught washing your boat for longer than 10 minutes, or outside the rules? Sydney Water warns that offenders can be slugged with a $220 fine if they break any of these rules.