Residents urged to conserve water for domestic use

Toowoomba Regional Council is calling on residents on the Toowoomba Bulk Water Supply network to conserve water for domestic use only due to a loss of dam pumping capacity caused by the ongoing Pechey fire.

The network supplies drinking water for Toowoomba and surrounding towns of Oakey, Jondaryan, Highfields, Crows Nest, Kingsthorpe, Gowrie Junction, Meringandan, Wyreema, Westbrook, Hodgson Vale and Goombungee. This will also apply to the towns of Cambooya and Vale View where Council is currently trucking water.

Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio said the weekend’s fires around Pechey had burnt the powerlines connected to some of Council’s water infrastructure assets, including the Cressbrook Dam pump station, which has stopped water being pumped from Cressbrook Dam.

Mayor Antonio said Council was reviewing the situation and was asking residents connected to the network to please limit their water consumption to inside use.

“This means no outdoor water use in the garden or washing cars or outdoor surfaces. It will be necessary to limit water consumption for indoor human use and water for pets,” Mayor Antonio said.

“Water supply will be maintained wherever possible to help with firefighting work. Residents are permitted to use water outside for firefighting purposes, if it is safe to do so. Please heed all emergency warnings.

“The unpredictable nature of the fire fronts, coupled with the changeable wind speed and direction means the situation is constantly changing.

“Residents should continue to listen and act in accordance with emergency warnings issued by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services. (These also will be shared on TRC’s social media channels.)

“Council is liaising with, and supporting, the emergency services and is monitoring the potential threat.

“I acknowledge we are experiencing a hot spell and call for extra vigilance to limit water consumption in a bid to conserve our valuable drinking water supply during this emergency.”