good news to all sydney residents, page-2

The NSW government has announced an easing of stage three water restrictions across Sydney, to allow motorists to wash their cars at home.

Water Minister Nathan Rees said the change, to take effect from this weekend, would allow the washing of cars using a hose with a trigger nozzle.

The state's dam levels had reached 65 per cent of capacity following recent good rain, but the bulk of stage three water restrictions would remain in place, Mr Rees said on Thursday.

"It's appropriate that Sydneysiders get some relief from restrictions," he told reporters.

"We are keeping the bulk of the restrictions on.

"Watering your garden remains by hand before 10am and after 4pm Wednesdays and Sundays."

The easing of car washing restrictions also applies in NSW's Illawarra and Blue Mountains areas.

It also permits the washing of boats, caravans, trucks and trailers and even homes and house windows with a hose and trigger nozzle.

Mr Rees said the changes would add less than one per cent to NSW's annual household water usage.

"This easing of restrictions is very modest," he said.

It was not introduced as soon as dam levels rose because the government gave priority to the environment.

"The first thing we did was restore environmental flows to the Hawksbury-Nepean river ... to return that river to good health," Mr Rees said.

When he announced the restoration of environmental flows in March, the minister said water restrictions would be reviewed when dam levels reached 70 per cent.

At the time, they were 67 per cent of capacity.