February 17, 2009
Despite widespread soaking rain over the past five days, water rules have tightened at Barraba.
Buckets are back in use now as the new water rules see the town move to a level 3 measure where sprinklers, sprays fixed hoses and irrigation systems are banned.
The new level means town water and Connors Creek Dam users can only use buckets and watering cans for two hours a day from 6pm to 8pm.
The tighter water rules are a result of the high temperatures and dry conditions which had triggered increased water use over the past few weeks, Water Executive Services manager Michael Bryant said.
Flows in the both Barraba Creek and the Manilla River have increased but the water is very turbid and TRC staff are monitoring that situation. It is possible the Level 3 restrictions might only be a temporary measure but Mr Bryant says most consumers would not be bothered by the buckets-only rule right now because they won’t need to water gardens outside for a while.
Before the weekend rain, Barraba Creek was flowing at 300kilolitres or 0.3megalitres a day and the Manilla River at 800 kilolitres. Demand had increased to 606kilolitres a day. The river flows were significantly above the trigger level for Level 3 water restrictions to be introduced and were likely to drop to the Level 4 trigger benchmark if the hot weather continued.