October 1, 2009
Tough new water rules will come into effect at Barraba from this weekend that will basically reduce outdoor household use to buckets only.
New level 3 water rules will arrive with daylight saving on Sunday - in the wake of continued falling creek and river flows that feed the town’s water supply.
The new water conservation measures come only a month after Barraba moved to a new trigger level and reflect the fluctuations of the stream-based flows and water supply.
From Sunday October 4 all outdoor hoses and sprinklers are banned and buckets or cans can only be used to water gardens or wash vehicles and only from 6pm to 8pm during daylight saving. Elderly or infirm people can apply to TRC for special exemptions that allow a hand held hose for 15minutes on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Tamworth Regional Council says the combination of falling flows in the Barraba Creek and Manilla River, the low level of Connors Creek Day, and climbing demand and consumption has tipped the town supply into the new water level which triggers a change in use.
Water Enterprises director Bruce Logan says the combined creek and river flows is over 750kilolitres a day which is the Level 3 trigger mark.
Mr Logan said Connors Creek Dam is under 35% capacity and falling. Demand at Barraba has ranged from nearly 400kilolitres a day during the cooler weather this week to more than 525kilolitres in the warmer weather late last month and is expected to return close to that level with the return of warm weather late this week. The consumption rate has been above all target levels. Although light rain nearly two weeks ago saw a small increase in the flow rate in the Manilla River, this has continued to drop since then.
Under the TRC water management plan Level 3 also means no washing down of hard surfaces, and no filling of pools. You can only top up pools with a bucket or can between 6pm and 8pm. The elderly or infirm who have difficulty using buckets can apply for a special exemption for limited use of a hand held hose for 15 minutes on Wednesdays and Sundays. They should contact the Barraba council office to see what information they need to supply to make their applications.