Save Water Now – water restrictions in force next week
06 December 2019
Lowest yearly rainfall on record for the Tweed
Level 2 Water Restrictions come into effect for Tweed residents from next Friday, 13 December.
Council last night decided to impose the restrictions on the Tweed District Water Supply, which includes Uki, as the level of Clarrie Hall Dam is at 79 per cent and falling 1.8 per cent a week against an original estimate of 1 per cent a week.
Tyalgum customers remain on the most severe level of water restrictions at Level 4.
Council also voted to reduce the triggers to escalate water restrictions to Level 3, from when the dam drops to 50 per cent capacity to 65 per cent capacity; and Level 4, from when the dam drops to 40 per cent capacity to 60 per cent capacity.
It also resolved to write to the Minister for Water Melinda Pavey and Water Licencing Regulator - Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) to request a relaxation of Environmental Flow requirements for Bray Park Weir. If the request is granted, Council will be able to reduce the volume of its daily release from Clarrie Hall Dam to make our supply last longer.
Council will launch its Save Water Now education campaign on Friday 13 December to raise awareness of what Level 2 water restrictions mean and how best to save water.
This week’s average water use figure of 194 litres per person per day shows that everyone has to find ways to save 50 litres of water a day, that’s five household plastic buckets; or, for a family of four, a standard bathtub filled to the brim.
The Tweed will jump directly to Level 2 restrictions (skipping Level 1) because this drought is proving different from historic droughts of the shire.
The move is a precautionary approach over and above what is contained in Council’s Drought Water Restrictions Policy because the Tweed has had the lowest rainfall on record since records began in 1881. At Murwillumbah, 632mm has been recorded for the calendar year, compared to the next lowest recording of 742mm in 1902.
Weather forecasts also suggest the Tweed cannot rely on receiving the 150mm to 200mm during the traditional wet season from February to April that it needs to avoid more severe restrictions.
The easiest way to save water is to reduce you outdoor water use, have shorter showers, fix any leaks and dripping taps and make sure your rainwater tank top-up system is working correctly and not being topped up by the town supply unnecessarily.
Council officers will begin to move around the community with the Save Water Now campaign and will be giving out more tips on how to save water and spelling out what you can and cannot do under Level 2 restrictions.
For more information see www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/WaterRestrictions
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Caption: The level of Clarrie Hall Dam is 79 per cent and falling 1.8 per cent a week.