Back to sprinklers Easing water restrictions to level 2 Boggabilla and Mungindi from Friday 3 April…

Back to sprinklers Easing water restrictions to level 2 Boggabilla and Mungindi from Friday 3 April 2020

Boggabilla and Mungindi water restrictions will ease to Level 2 water restrictions from today, Friday 3 April 2020.

For some time, water restrictions have been imposed under Council’s Water Supply Schemes Drought Management Plan.  Due to recent rainfall across the Shire and river flows, Council has re-evaluated the water restrictions in place in Boggabilla and Mungindi.

This reduction in water restrictions is based on:

For Mungindi, river flows are now being used to supplement Mungindi’s potable town water supply through a combination of artesian water and river water to shore up capacity to supply Mungindi’s town water. For Boggabilla, substantial flows into the Macintyre River has secured supply.

Mayor Katrina Humphries was excited to deliver the good news to Boggabilla and Mungindi residents in time for the Easter break, stating “During these trying times, our community needs to hear positivity, easing water restrictions and the sight of rainfall is certainly something to celebrate.

“We are well on the way to having no water restrictions in place at all in these communities. While I cannot wait to see that day arrive, we must be prudent in taking these decisions and take a common-sense

approach. Now is not the time for us to be stretching the capacity of our Water Services team.

“I am extremely pleased to be delivering this good news for the residents in these communities,” said Mayor Humphries.

Level 2 water restrictions include lifting the limits on showers and baths, washing pets and using hand-held hoses on lawns and gardens.

Details of these restrictions are:

Level 2 Water Restrictions

The Water Supply Schemes Drought Management Plan adopted by Council outlines the process involved when advancing water restrictions and the applicable restrictions. For household water users in Mungindi and Boggabilla: • Sprinkler systems can be used between 6:00am - 9:00am and 7:00pm - 10:00pm in accordance with the odds and even scheme. Hand-held hoses and buckets may be used at any time; o Households with odd street numbers are permitted to use their sprinkler systems on odd dates; o Households with even street numbers are permitted to use their sprinkler systems on even dates. • Paved and concrete surfaces are not to be washed down; • Covered pools may only be topped up using hand-held hoses during the hours allowed for general watering noted above; • Car washing can only occur using a bucket and a trigger hose can be used to rinse off the vehicle; • Only water trigger hoses can be used while undertaking home extensions or landscaping; • Water can only be carted for domestic purposes; • Washing of clothes is only encouraged when there is a full load; • There are no restrictions on showers and baths; • There are no restrictions on washing pets; • There are no restrictions on using evaporative air coolers; • All fountains are to be turned off, the pond can be topped up.

For Commercial and Industrial water users in Mungindi and Boggabilla the following restrictions will apply: • Irrigation (Efficient User) consumption should be reduced by 15%; • Irrigation (Non-Efficient User) consumption should be reduced by 25%; • All fountains are to be turned off. Ponds may continue to be topped; • Public swimming pools are to be operated with maximum efficiency; • Water can only be carted from a secure water source; • Businesses should not be impacted at this level of restriction; • Car sale yard can only wash cars under set conditions; • Commercial car washes are allowed to operate; • Washing of commercial buildings and windows is discouraged.

Residents and local businesses are required to follow all water restrictions.