8 August 2022
Permanent Water Saving Rules
Permanent water saving rules are now in place with a target of 200 litres per person per day (200 L/p/d) 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:
May – September 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
October – April 6:00 AM – 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
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
Washing of cars, caravans, trailers, bikes and boats is permitted within allocated outdoor watering times using:
- Hand-held hoses (with trigger nozzle);
- Buckets; and
- 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 waterwise 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); and
- 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.
Current water 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.
Warwick
Leslie Dam
The current water level and volume in Leslie Dam is 100%
and 105,893 ML, respectively. Based on the drawdown forecast by Sunwater with full utilisation
of high and medium priority entitlements and assuming all of these entitlements
are sourced from Leslie Dam (rather than from natural streamflow or streamflow
periods), it would take 52 months to drawdown the Leslie Dam storage to dead
storage level with no further inflow. If the dam continues to receive further
inflows, Council will receive further supply extension.
Water release from Leslie Dam by Sunwater
- Water allocation for water storage level above 460.35 m 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.
Connolly Dam
The current water level and volume is 100% and 2,166 ML, respectively. This level has not changed in the last week.
Drought Management Plan (DMP) Update
The consultation period for the survey on water restrictions closed and a draft Drought Management Plan is being prepared. Currently, the 'Round Two - Community Consultation' for Council's DMP is underway for final endorsement of DMP, which encompasses both online and face-to-face onsite consultations. Residents, business and community groups were invited to provide their feedback to online survey questionnaire by 31 July 2022.
Emergency Water Supply
Warwick emergency supply
- 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 South-East Queensland (SEQ) Water to supply water to Warwick via a new pipeline. This is a State Government led project (Toowoomba to Warwick Water Pipeline 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 (NSW) 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, and 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 (FAQs). Important questions from the community can be submitted either by email (drought@sdrc.qld.gov.au) or via the Council Facebook page.