Level 3 Water Restrictions for Tamworth

Thursday 28 February, 2019

In the next few days, the water level of Chaffey Dam is expected to drop to the 30 per cent trigger point where Level 3 Water restrictions are put in place for Tamworth, Moonbi and Kootingal.

Tamworth Regional Council Water Sustainability Officer, Ian Lobban, said the tighter water restrictions will come into effect on Monday 4 March, 2019.

"This will mean there is a significant tightening of outdoor water use from Monday next week for residents in Tamowrth, Moonbi and Kootingal who will only be allowed to water for 15 minutes only between the two hour window of 6pm to 8pm," he said.

Under Level 3 Restrictions:

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 6pm to 8pm Daylight Saving Time. No washdown of hard surfaces outdoors, including pressure cleaners. Pools can be topped up during 15 minutes of the 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 including Variation to Hours and 6 Week New Turf plans are now null and void. 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.

"There has been criticism directed at Council accusing us of waiting too long to introduce tighter water restrictions but we are following a Drought Management Plan that the community had the opportunity to comment on before it was adopted by Council," he said. "The important fact we ask the community to remember is that 30% of water in the storage of the now larger Chaffey Dam equates to around 30,000 Megalitres or 30 Gigalitres. 30 Gigalitres was about 50% of the old smaller Chaffey Dam and 50% was the trigger for the introduction of Level 1 restrictions under the old Drought Management Plan. 

"So as of Monday, we will be introducing level 3 restrictions when previously we would have been introducing level 1."

The latest figures from the Calala Water Treatment Plant shows daily consumption over the past 7 days has averaged 30 Megalitres. Under Level 3 restrictions we are targeting a reduction in consumption to 21 Megalitres a day.

Residents can check which Water Restriction level applies to their home as well as the rules for each level by clicking here.