WATERING the garden on the wrong day has been a costly mistake for several Margaret River residents lately.
The infringement of $100 was a topic of frustration for people in Brookfield and Rapids Landing last week.
One resident complained there had been no warning before their fine was handed out by the Water Corporation of WA.
The revenue collected through fines is not an income for the Water Corporation.
- Water Corporation South West regional manager, John Janssen
But the two-day-per-week sprinkler roster has been in place for more than six years, according to Water Corporation South West.
Water Corporation South West regional manager John Janssen said 28 warnings and 17 infringements had been issued to Margaret River people breaching the roster this year. There was a total of 214 fines handed out across the South West region.
Mr Janssen said fine revenue was not income for the corporation; it became part of the state government's consolidated revenue. The purpose of the roster and relevant infringements was to help people use less water in summer, spring and autumn.
Water Corp studies suggest garden reticulation systems could use 50-70 litres of water per station every minute.
"On average more than 40 per cent of household water use occurs outside the home, however during warmer weather this can double," Mr Janssen said.
"We want our customers to avoid bill shock and monitor exactly how much water they are using, especially when they switch their sprinklers back on after winter."
Under the roster, scheme water users can water their gardens once on their rostered days, before 9am or after 6pm, depending on their house number.
Margaret River is also subject to the winter sprinkler ban, in place from June 1 to August 31 each year.
Find out your home's watering days here.