Perth Watering Days Water Corporation · two-day roster

Water Corporation roster · Perth & Mandurah

Check your watering days

Enter your house number to see your two roster days and whether sprinklers are allowed today — including the winter switch-off.

Same rules for scheme water and garden bores; based on the last digit of your street number.

Full roster reference

18
 Wednesday & Saturday
29
 Thursday & Sunday
30
 Friday & Monday
4
 Saturday & Tuesday
5
 Sunday & Wednesday
6
 Monday & Thursday
7
 Tuesday & Friday

Based on the last digit of your house number. Even-numbered streets generally water Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Watering tips for Perth

  • Water before 9am Early morning watering reduces evaporation loss by up to 30% compared to watering in the heat of the day.
  • Check your heads regularly A single blocked or tilted sprinkler head can leave dry patches or waste water on hard surfaces. Worth a quick walk-through each season.
  • Retic must be off June–August Sprinkler systems are banned entirely from 1 June to 31 August under Water Corporation rules. Running your retic during this period can result in a fine.

Need a retic service or repair? Retic Man covers the Perth hills and metro area.

About the Perth Watering Roster

Perth's Water Corporation operates a permanent two-day-a-week sprinkler roster for all residential properties in the Perth and Mandurah area. The roster applies equally to scheme water and garden bore users — both are limited to two days per week based on the last digit of the street number (or lot number where no street number exists).

On each allocated day, sprinklers may run once, either before 9am or after 6pm. There is no restriction on run time, but Water Corporation recommends no more than 10mm per cycle — roughly 15 minutes for standard pop-up spray nozzles.

Winter Sprinkler Switch-Off

A permanent winter switch-off bans all sprinkler use from 1 June to 31 August every year, covering both scheme and bore users. Hand watering with a held hose remains permitted year-round. Automatic or manual sprinkler operation during the ban can attract a $100 on-the-spot fine. If you go away in winter, check your controller has a seasonal adjustment — a power outage can reset programming and leave your system running.

Bore Water Users

Since September 2022, domestic garden bore users in Perth and Mandurah follow the same two-day roster as scheme water users. The third bore day was removed to slow declining groundwater levels. If you share a bore with a neighbour and can't isolate irrigation to separate days, both properties must water only on the days assigned to the bore's address.

Frequently asked questions

What times can I run my sprinklers?

Sprinklers must run either before 9am or after 6pm on your allocated days. You can use the system once per day within those windows — not both morning and evening on the same day.

Does the winter ban apply to bore water users?

Yes. The winter switch-off from 1 June to 31 August applies to all residential sprinkler use in the Perth and Mandurah area, including garden bore users. Hand watering with a held hose is still permitted during winter.

What's the fine for watering on the wrong day?

Water Corporation inspectors patrol 7 days a week and issue $100 on-the-spot fines for confirmed roster breaches. Complaints from neighbours are also investigated. The fine applies equally during the winter switch-off period.

I live in a unit — which number do I use?

Use the building (street) number, not your unit number. For example, Unit 5 at 10 Nowhere Terrace uses the last digit of 10 (which is 0), giving watering days of Friday and Monday.

My property spans two street numbers — which one?

Use the higher of the two numbers. So a property at 22–24 Water Street uses 24, meaning its last digit is 4 and the watering days are Saturday and Tuesday.

Can I water by hand on non-roster days?

Yes — hand-held hose watering is not restricted to roster days and is permitted any day, any time, including during the winter switch-off. The roster applies only to sprinkler and reticulation systems.

Can I get an exemption for new lawn or garden?

Yes. A temporary exemption is available through Water Corporation for newly planted lawns and gardens. Between 1 October and 31 March, you can water up to three times per day for 42 days from planting. Between 1 April and 30 September the exemption period is 35 days. Apply online through the Water Corporation website or call the Waterwise helpline on 13 10 39.

Can a retic contractor test my system outside roster days?

Yes. Contractors working in the turf, garden or landscaping industries may operate a reticulation system outside roster days and times for installation, testing, maintenance or repair — to the minimum extent necessary, generally considered no more than two minutes per station.

Does bore water have different days to scheme water?

No. Since September 2022, domestic garden bore users in Perth and Mandurah follow the same two-day roster as scheme water users. The previous three-day bore allocation was removed to help slow declining groundwater levels.

Does the roster apply outside Perth and Mandurah?

A roster applies to most of regional WA, but the specific days and rules can differ from the Perth metro roster. Areas covered include towns south of and including Kalbarri and Kalgoorlie. Check the Water Corporation or Department of Water and Environmental Regulation websites for the rules that apply to your specific location.