Save it for summer: Winter Sprinkler Switch-off returns

Households and businesses across Perth, Mandurah and parts of the South-West and Great Southern are being asked to save it for summer during the annual Winter Sprinkler Switch-off.

The switch-off is a permanent water efficiency initiative requiring scheme and bore users to turn off garden reticulation from 1 June to 31 August, helping save precious water for when it’s needed most.

Each year, this simple yet effective measure helps save more than 5 billion litres of scheme water.

This is important when you consider average rainfall in Perth has declined by around 20 per cent since the 1970s, leading to an 80 per cent reduction in streamflow to metropolitan dams. 

Using sprinklers during the switch-off can result in a $100 fine if witnessed by a Water Corporation inspector, or a written warning if reported by a member of the public.

Since being introduced in 2010, the annual Winter Sprinkler Switch-Off has saved around 60 billion litres of water – enough to fill Optus Stadium 60 times.

Hand watering is permitted during the Switch-off and some exemptions may also apply. In areas of Western Australia not subject to the Switch-off, normal watering rosters and daytime sprinkler bans apply.

To find out if your suburb is included, visit watercorporation.com.au/wintersprinklerswitchoff and enter your postcode.