Water restrictions have been eased this weekend so children can play under garden sprinklers during the current heatwave.
The state government has relaxed level three water restrictions across the Sydney, Illawarra and Blue Mountains region, allowing sprinklers to be turned on outside prohibited hours on Saturday and on Sunday.
Weekend temperatures are expected to soar into the mid-30s in Sydney’s CBD and as high as the mid-40s in the city’s west and other parts of NSW.
A southerly change is tipped to cool things down late on Sunday.
NSW Water Minister Phil Costa said the gesture made sense when weather conditions put people’s health at risk.
“With the mercury headed well above 40 degrees, there is room for flexibility and common sense,” Mr Costa said in a statement on Saturday.
“Nobody will get a fine for having a sprinkler in the yard to cool down the kids this weekend.”
All other water restrictions remain in place, Mr Costa said, which include regulations over swimming pools and the use of hoses on specific days, during specific times.