The six-level system of conservation measures under the
Drought Management Plan are based on dam levels, flows in streams and bore levels for all seven water supply schemes operated by Tamworth Regional Council.
The water rules system has been designed to clearly set out the triggers or prompts for certain water use levels and restrictions so that residents are more aware of what water rules come into force for certain local conditions. The same levels of restrictions are proposed to apply to all water supply areas but the trigger points for each level will vary depending on each supply.
Information on what each of the levels mean is provided below and we have included this
Water Restrictions Guide to clearly lay out the things you can and cannot do on each level and in each category. If you have a question around water restrictions, please refer to these
frequently asked questions.
Permanent Water Conservation Measures
- Permanent Water Conservation Measures are always in place when there are no actual water restrictions.
- Use of sprinklers, sprays, microsprays and fixed hoses is not allowed during the heat of the day, which means watering must take place between 4pm to 9am Eastern Standard Time and 6pm to 8am Daylight Saving Time.
- Hand-held hoses with trigger nozzles, and buckets or watering cans, may used for watering of lawns, gardens and vehicle-washing at any time.
- Trigger nozzles must be used on all hoses to help conserve supplies and avoid waste.
- No washdown of hard surfaces unless using a high-pressure cleaner.
- Sprinklers, sprays, microjet sprays and fixed hoses are allowed for two hours only per day, 5pm to 7pm Eastern Standard Time or 6pm to 8pm Daylight Saving Time.
- Hand-held hoses can be used between 4pm to 9am Eastern Standard Time or 6pm and 8am Daylight Saving Time.
- No washdown of hard surfaces unless using a high-pressure cleaner.
- Vehicles can be washed any time if using a high-pressure cleaner.
- Recycled, greywater and rainwater can be used. Rainwater tanks can only be approved by Council and a sign issued if they are stand-alone and not able to be switched to the treated supply.
- Pools can be filled and topped up.
- Sprinklers, sprays, microjet sprays and fixed hoses cannot be used.
- Hand-held hoses and sub-surface dripper systems can be used for two hours only per day from 5pm to 7pm Eastern Standard Time or 6pm to 8pm
Daylight Saving Time.
- Vehicles can only be washed with a hand-held hose, with a trigger nozzle attached, between 5pm to 7pm Eastern Standard Time or 6pm to 8pm
Daylight Saving Time, but a bucket can be used any time.
- No washdown of hard surfaces unless using a high-pressure cleaner.
- Pools can be topped up, but Council permission is required if capacity is above 5 kilolitres.
- Recycled, greywater and rainwater can be used. Rainwater tanks can only be approved by Council and a sign issued if they are stand-alone and not able to be switched to the treated supply.
- All use of sprinklers is banned – including sprinklers, sprays, microjet sprays, fixed hoses and subsurface dripper systems.
- Handheld hoses for 15 minutes only per property within the two hour window of 5pm to 7pm Eastern Standard Time or 6pm to 8pm
Daylight Saving Time.
- No washdown of hard surfaces outdoors, including pressure cleaners.
- Pools can be filled during 15 minutes of allowed hose time.
- Irrigation of Council’s Category 1 and 2 parks, gardens, reserves and playing fields continues in accordance with the Drought Management Plan.
- All previously issued Water Management Plans are now inactive.
- Recycled, greywater and rainwater can be used. Rainwater tanks can only be approved by Council and a sign issued if they are stand-alone and not able to be switched to the treated supply.
- Buckets and watering cans can be used within the two hour window without limitation.
- All residential outdoor use of treated / town / Council water is now banned.
- Council will cease to irrigate public parks, gardens, roundabouts and sporting facilities with treated water, but bore / groundwater can continue to be used where available.
- Recycled, greywater and rainwater can be used.
- Recycled, greywater and rainwater can be used. Rainwater tanks can only be approved by Council and a sign issued if they are stand-alone and not able to be switched to the treated supply.
- Trickle feed tanks that are connected to the town water supply for refilling cannot be used for outdoor watering.
- There is no irrigation of outdoor industrial and commercial green spaces.
- Cleaning of vehicle windows, windscreens, number plates and mirrors can be done for safety and regulatory purposes with buckets only.
- Pools cannot be filled or topped up.
- Emergency level.
- Includes all bans from Level 4.
- Evaporative air conditioners can be used, but as efficiently and moderately as possible.
- Recycled, greywater and rainwater can be used. Rainwater tanks can only be approved by Council and a sign issued if they are stand-alone and not able to be switched to the treated supply.
Water Management Plans
In some cases it may be possible to apply to Council for a Water Management Plan which, if approved, allows the use of water outside the designated hours under Permanent, Level 1, 2 and 3 restrictions. An application fee applies for Water Management Plans and if approved they are only valid for 12 months.
For full details of what can and cannot be done under various levels of water restrictions please see the Water Restrictions Guide.
The above advice on water restrictions applies to the reticulated town water supplies operated by Tamworth Regional Council, at Tamworth, Kootingal, Moonbi, Nundle, Attunga, Bendemeer, Manilla and Barraba. If you have a private or community operated water supply servicing your property within any of these areas you will need to check the NSW Department of Water and Energy website about the restrictions and conditions that apply to groundwater usage.
Why water restrictions are needed
Council takes a strategic approach to securing its water supplies by developing and implementing its Demand Management Plan and Drought Management Plan. As a key part of this, a system of water restrictions was developed for the community to conserve the region's treated water supplies if and when their levels drop.
Council is also urging that everybody in the region be smart with the water they use and optimise its use wherever possible - even when supply levels are high. As such, water restrictions are never actually lifted - there is just a change in level depending on how much water we have.
Even when supply levels are at their highest, we are still on Permanent restrictions, which means things like using a sprinkler in the heat of the day or hosing paths and driveways are things of the past.
When and why restrictions change
If and when our water supplies become gradually lower, Council implements a series of water restrictions aimed at conserving our supplies until we receive rainfall in the various catchments, or to top up groundwater supplies.
A series of 'trigger levels' has been designed so that if and when a water supply falls to a certain percentage of its capacity, the residents who rely on that water supply are placed on a corresponding level of water restrictions. This gives the region a consistent and systematic approach to conserving its water supplies if and when it becomes necessary.