The long dry – further water restrictions for Emerald, Blackwater and Bluff
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Posted on December 4, 2020
Water restrictions in Emerald, Blackwater and Bluff will increase to level three from Monday 7 December 2020.
Mayor Kerry Hayes said while level three was the highest water restriction level council has imposed, the promising seasonal outlook should give people in the region confidence and hope.
‘We’ve merely avoided reaching level three restrictions earlier in the year and now we’re right in front of our rainy season with a promising outlook,’ he said.
‘So, let’s hope it’s for a short while only that we have to really tighten the tap, but let’s do the right thing and be prepared for what comes next.
‘We live in a region that sees great climate variability and we’re incredibly resilient in how we adapt to our ever-changing environment; that’s what we need to draw upon right now.’
The main change between levels two and three for residential gardens is that the use of standard sprinklers on both lawns and garden beds and sprinklers is not permitted.
Lawns may be watered with handheld hoses fitted with a trigger between 7.00 pm to 8.00 pm on three allocated watering days per week. Micro-spray and drip systems can be used on garden beds and shrubs between 8.00 pm and midnight on three days. Buckets and cans can be used anytime on garden beds and shrubs, and handheld hoses can be used between 6.00 am and 8.00 am and 7.00 pm and 9.00 pm at night on three allocated days.
Mayor Hayes said the restrictions related to the region’s largest population centres that draw urban water from the Fairbairn Dam.
‘Apart from a few isolated operational issues in Tieri and Capella, our water reservoirs in other towns sourcing water from bores and the Dawson Valley Scheme in Duaringa are still okay, so we realise that it can be hard to understand how there can be a difference,’ he said.
‘Council, like all of SunWater’s customers, has to manage their allocation from the Nogoa-Mackenzie Scheme in line with the amount of water available.
‘This is where it becomes important that we manage our usage in the largest population centres and make a choice to become savvy and responsible gardeners, homeowners, renters and businesses.’
About level three water restrictions
Under level three restrictions lawns can be watered with a handheld hose between 7.00 pm and 8.00 pm on three allocated days per week only.
Garden beds and shrubs can be watered with micro-spray or drip irrigation systems fitted with a timer at between 8.00 pm and midnight on three allocated days per week. Watering with a handheld hose can be done between 6.00 am and 8.00 am in the morning and 7.00 pm and 9.00 pm at night on three allocated days per week. Watering with a bucket or can may be done anytime.
Allocation days are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for odd-numbered houses and Wednesday, Friday and Sunday for even-numbered houses.
Existing pools may be topped up with a handheld hose or watering can or bucket. Filling of newly constructed swimming pools requires written permission.
Water must not be used to clean windows except using a bucket or watering can be filled directly from a tap.
Water must not be used to clean paved areas unless cleaning is required as a result of an accident, fire, health hazard or other emergencies.
Water must not be used to clean vehicles except using:
Automatic washing systems which recycle water. Commercial car wash facilities using trigger hoses. Watering cans or buckets filled directly from taps. Trigger hoses that can be used only to rinse vehicles after washing.These restrictions apply to the use of urban treated and raw water. They do not apply to:
Rain, grey or private bore water. Properties holding their own water allocations or license. Properties with a council exemption.Find up-to-date information on water restriction levels and water-saving tips.