Save more water now and keep restrictions at Level 2
23 January 2020
Water crisis is not over - so don’t waste it
Council is challenging Tweed residents to switch off automatic outdoor watering systems and put away the garden hose for as long as possible following last weekend’s widespread rain.
All residents with water tanks filled by the rain are reminded not to use that tank water unnecessarily because level 2 restrictions apply to that tank unless it is entirely independent of the town water supply.
“Please don’t waste the rain that has delivered us a reprieve from introducing harsher water restrictions,” Manager Water and Wastewater Anthony Burnham said.
“The rain has recharged soil moisture levels and tanks and may give the community false confidence that the water crisis is over. But it’s not. We need another 300mm or more of follow-up rain in the catchment before we can lift water restrictions.”
Mr Burnham has challenged the community to work harder to keep water restrictions at level 2 by not watering gardens for at least two to three weeks but instead relying on plants taking up the ground water now available.
“Watering lawns is still banned and there are still restrictions on other outdoor uses.”
Mr Burnham said falls of up to 180mm in the Clarrie Hall Dam catchment had given the Tweed an extra 10 weeks at level 2 restrictions and delayed what was the imminent introduction of level 3 restrictions, which would begin to hurt both residents and businesses.
“Let’s not waste this rainfall and maximise its benefits to make our limited water supply last as long as possible because the reality is we can still run out of water.
“If everyone heeds the call to do more now to save water we can keep water restrictions at level 2 for longer and avoid the pain of the harsher level 3 and 4 restrictions.”
Clarrie Hall Dam is currently at 81 per cent capacity, up 12 per cent from 68.8 per cent last week. But level 2 restrictions will not be lifted until the dam reaches 95 per cent capacity and there has been very little rain in the catchment since Sunday.
Before the rain, Council data suggested the average resident was not achieving the target water use of 144 litres per person per day under level 2 restrictions.
“We all need to double our efforts and refocus now to keep it at level 2 for as long as possible.”
To find out how to save water and water restrictions, visit www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/savewaternow
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Caption: Clarrie Hall Dam is currently at 81 per cent capacity, up 12 per cent from 68.8 per cent last week. But level 2 restrictions will not be lifted until the dam reaches 95 per cent capacity and there has been very little rain in the catchment since Sunday.