As the on-going drought continues to bite hard across southern Queensland the Southern Downs community will move to extreme level water restrictions with severe drought conditions and no rainfall continuing to significantly impact the region’s water supplies.
Under extreme level water restrictions residents will need to reduce their water use to 120 litres per person per day.
The new restrictions will be effective immediately and will apply to all residents, including rural residents, who purchase water from Southern Downs Regional Council.
Southern Downs Mayor Tracy Dobie said the new restrictions are vital to sustaining and conserving the region’s precious water supplies.
“The water we save now is crucial to how resilient our community will be if drought conditions get worse. The more water we can save now, the better,” Cr Dobie said.
“As a local government we are responsible, first and foremost, for continuing to manage and provide water to residents who are connected to the urban water supply, and to provide support for rural residents who need to buy urban water for domestic purposes.
“Severe drought conditions continue to significantly impact our region and are placing stress on our water supplies. Low dam levels, dry conditions and high water consumption have triggered a move to extreme level water restrictions.”
Leslie Dam is currently at 7.2 per cent capacity while Storm King is at 41 pc and Connolly Dam is 45.2 per cent full.
“We need the community’s help to reduce water consumption and we are asking everyone to be responsible and fair with how they use water.
The target for everyone is 120 litres per person per day and everyone can make a difference,” the Mayor said.
Council resolved to introduce extreme level water restrictions at a Special Council Meeting on Wednesday..
SDRC is working with local businesses, sporting clubs and community groups to help them reduce their water consumption and conserve water, and is currently reviewing all aspects of Council’s raw and recycled water supply.
“We all play a role in managing our region’s water and Council has commenced engaging specifically with individual businesses to assist them to become more water efficient,” Cr Dobie said. “
We are working closely with the State Government on contingency planning should we need an emergency water supply. We’re asking the community to be patient and work with Council as we go through the process and finalise details.”
Rural residents will themselves be able to access urban water from the Warwick and Stanthorpe standpipes until 1 May 2019.
Rural residents accessing water from the Stanthorpe and Warwick standpipes will be limited to purchasing a maximum of 1000 litres per fill, capped at 3000 litres per week.