Deep Creek Dam, just south of Batemans Bay. Photo: Google Maps.
As communities to the west make deeper and deeper cuts to water availability, the Eurobodalla is taking its first step towards water restrictions.
Level 1 water restrictions will come into effect across the towns and villages of the Eurobodalla on Monday, October 14.
Council’s Infrastructure Director Warren Sharpe says a dry winter and lack of significant spring rain means the shire’s households are drawing on reserves in Deep Creek Dam.
“In the absence of decent rain, we need to take measures to reduce demand and keep our water supply secure over summer,” Mr Sharpe says.
Council’s Water Restrictions Policy provides guidance on how and when water restrictions are implemented, with five levels of restrictions.
What do Level 1 water restrictions mean?
Banned:
- Fixed sprinklers, micro-spray systems, and unattended hoses;
- Washing hard surface areas (paths, driveways, decks, patios, parking areas etc) with a hose;
- Washing boats, cars or trailers at boat ramps.
Allowed:
- Watering gardens and lawns – one hand-held hose at a time can be used between 5 pm and 10 am;
- Drip-irrigation systems – one system fixed to one tap can be used instead of a hand-held hose between 5 pm and 10 am;
- Washing private vehicles (cars, boats, bikes and trailers) on grass areas using buckets and a final rinse with a trigger nozzle hose, at any time;
- Boat engine flushing – on grass areas, at any time;
- Facilities at boat ramps – fish cleaning and flushing boat motors only;
- New and existing private swimming pools and external spas can be topped up or filled using a hand-held hose between 5 pm and 10 am. Cover when not in use.
Mr Sharpe says “we anticipate moving to level 2 restrictions in late November and level 3 restrictions by the end of December,” he says.
“Although we need the community to help us by adhering to water-use conditions, there’s no need for people to be alarmed.
“We have strategies in place to maximise the water level at Deep Creek Dam and we are priming our backup water supply at the Southern Water Treatment Plant in Bodalla to ensure a consistent summer supply.
“To keep people informed, we’ll be posting the current and previous week’s water storage and usage amounts on Council’s website and in the weekly Noticeboard, in print and online.”
For more information, including current storage and usage, and hints and tips for saving water, visit Council’s website.
In Orange, in the Central West of NSW, Level 5 water restrictions will be imposed from October 6, reducing garden watering to one hour a week and banning the use of sprinklers and soaker hoses, washing cars at home and filling swimming pools.
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