Water Update
2 December 2021 Water Briefing Update
Permanent Water Saving Rules
Permanent water saving rules are now in place with a target of 200 litres per person per day apply across the region for users accessing drinking water
supplies.
Outdoor
watering and cleaning times: Use of water for outdoor watering and cleaning of hard
surfaces can only occur:
·
7am – 9am and 4pm – 6pm
May –September
·
6am –
8am and 5pm – 7pm October – April
Hand Held Hose: Water from a hand-held hose can only be used if it
is fitted with a trigger nozzle and is leak free.
Garden
Sprinklers: Garden sprinklers
must be a minimum 3 star rating and used in conjunction with a timer.
·
Maximum
use of a water efficient sprinkler is 20 minutes on any one day where outdoor watering
is allowed.
·
Sprinklers
can only be used in accordance with scheduled outdoor watering times.
·
Use of
efficient sprinklers must comply with Efficient Irrigation for Water
Conservation Guidelines.
Residential Vehicle Washing (includes cars, caravans, trailers, bikes and boats):
Permitted within allocated outdoor watering times using:
·
Hand-held
hoses (with trigger nozzle)
·
Buckets
·
High
pressure, low volume water cleaning units
Cleaning windows,
mirrors and lights for safety can be done at any time of day using a bucket.
Cleaning
of hard surfaces: water can be used (using
water-wise practices) to clean driveways, paths, concrete, tiles, timber decking
and solar panels where:
· Cleaning is required as
a result of an accident, fire, health hazard, safety hazard or other emergency
(can occur any time of day)
· If
surface staining has occurred (cleaning can occur once per season)
· In the
course of construction or renovation (Exemptions may be required within the
water restriction framework)
Waterwise practices must be used when cleaning hard
surfaces. This means:
· Use of a high pressure,
low volume water cleaning device; or
· If
such a device is not available, a hand held hose (see above) or a bucket and
broom
Be Waterwise
stickers are available for businesses located within the Southern Downs. These
stickers are free of charge and can be collected from Council Administration
Buildings for use in showers, toilets and near hand washing basins.
COVID-19 and provision of water and wastewater services
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Southern Downs Regional Council is
focused on ensuring business as usual continuity for water and wastewater
services across the region. Residents can rest assured that provision of
drinking water and sanitation services will continue as normal. Recent rains have replenished the water
supply dams, allowing water restrictions to be relaxed to 200 litres per person
per day.
Current levels and expected run out dates
- Stanthorpe
- Current water level and volume in Storm King Dam is 100% and 2065 ML. The dam has filled following rains received in March 2021.
- Storm King Dam is
now being used for town water supply and water is no longer being carted from
Connolly Dam. Storm King would reach its
minimum operating level in 18 months with no further inflows.
Drought Management Plan Update
The consultation period for the survey on water restrictions closed and a draft Drought Management Plan is being prepared. Opportunity for feedback on the draft plan will be available in coming months.
Water release from Leslie Dam by Sunwater
- Water allocation for water storage level above 460.35m AHD is managed by Sunwater in accordance with the user agreements between Sunwater and licence holders. Sunwater controls how and when this water is released.
- All releases for irrigation cease once the dam water level reaches 460.35 m AHD. The remaining supply is reserved exclusively for town water supply for Southern Downs Regional Council.
Emergency Water Supply
- Warwick emergency supply
- Leslie Dam - Recent rain has restored the water level in Leslie Dam which has restored the Warwick/Allora/Yangan water supply.
- Investigation to source supplementary water will continue to source backup water for future use.
- Council is in discussion with Toowoomba Regional Council and Seqwater to supply water to Warwick via a new pipeline. This is a State government led project.
- Investigation work continues to identify additional bore sites for supplementary emergency water for Warwick.
- Wallangarra emergency supply
Recent rainfall has restored the water level in both the Beehive Dam and The Soak to full capacity. Current storage in both these dams has sufficient water to supply water to Wallangarra and part of Jennings for over 18 months. Water is currently sourced from the Beehive Dam. Work associated with sourcing emergency water supply for Wallangarra is now complete and can be brought online as required.
Pressure and Leakage
- Leak detection has been completed across the whole network.
- Leaks continue to be repaired as Council becomes aware of them.
- Work continues to develop hydraulic models of the water supply network for the strategic management of leaks, efficient pressure management and future planning.
Communications
- The Southern Downs Regional Council website should be the primary reference point for all questions relating to water queries.
- Updates will be provided on a regular basis to the website on key issues such as water restrictions, storage forecasts and water conservation tips, as well as frequently asked questions.
- Important questions from the community can be submitted either by email (drought@sdrc.qld.gov.au) or via the Council Facebook page.