SA Minister for the Murray Karlene Maywald yesterday announced changes to the current water restrictions "in recognition that some gardens may require a mid-week watering as summer approaches".

Households will now have the option of spreading their current three-hour a week watering times across two days.

The current rules also allow watering cans and buckets to be used any time on any day of the week.

"We have been listening to the community and while they have been very supportive of the current water restrictions, there has been a plea for more flexible arrangements," Mrs Maywald said.

But the continuation of garden hosing comes despite criticisms from the Queensland Farmers' Federation, which says that up to 55 gigalitres of water a year could be saved for the Murray if Adelaide residents were put on the same level of restrictions as Brisbane residents were at the height of the SE Qld drought.

But Mrs Maywald has justified the new laws citing advice from the SA Water Customer Council, the Urban Water Drought Reference Group and the gardening professionals, which states that "such a flexible arrangement will reduce the risk of over-watering and provide a better chance of our trees and gardens surviving yet another dry summer".

"SA Water will be carefully monitoring water use every week and keeping track of any trends in increased water use," she said.

"While we are not relaxing or easing water restrictions, we are building more flexibility into the system for householders."

Meanwhile, the SA Government yesterday passed legislation to refer the management of the Murray River system to the Commonwealth.

Once other Basin States complete the passage of similar legislation, the Commonwealth will be able to take the lead role in managing the system.