Residents Rise to Water Restrictions

WATER usage in the Upper Hunter Shire Council area has fallen, with Council hoping the trend continues as Level 1 water restrictions begin this month.

The usage in 2017/2018 compared to 2018/2019:

• Aberdeen and Scone: 2008 ML to 1966ML;
• Cassilis: 15.7 ML to 15.6 ML, and
• Merriwa: 326 ML to 287 ML.

Murrurundi is on Level 6 water restrictions with a target of 188kL per day and is staying close to the mark using on average 201kL per day.

The downward trend is in stark contrast to previous years where Scone and Aberdeen’s water consumption had risen by 23% and Merriwa by 29%.

Level 1 Restrictions

Level 1 water restrictions in the Upper Hunter Shire area began on September 1, with residents who breach three written warnings set to receive a $200 penalty.

Under Level 1 restrictions the following restrictions will be enforced:

• Watering of lawns and gardens is only permitted between 6am – 9am and 6pm – 9pm during daylight saving and 6am – 10am and 4pm – 10pm during the rest of the year.
• Cars must be washed with a bucket and rinsed with a trigger hose on the lawn.
• No washing of walls or paved surfaces.

Council will consider further restrictions towards the end of 2020, if the drought continues and will be dependent on the water allocations available from Glenbawn Dam.

Wayne Bedggood, the Mayor of the Upper Hunter Shire Council, said while residents should be congratulated, it is important to keep water use low as the temperatures rise.

“It is just common sense, like only watering your garden in the cool of the mornings and evenings,” said Mayor Wayne Bedggood.

“In coming years, more and more residents will have access to reticulated water systems, and that is a great thing, but we all need to be more careful in our use of a precious and increasingly scarce resource,” he said.

Water Plans in the Pipeline

• The Murrurundi pipeline is under construction and is due for completion in June 2020. The pipeline will supply the township of Murrurundi with water from Glenbawn Dam.
• Water reticulation systems are planned to Blandford, Wingen and Parkville from the Murrurundi pipeline.
• Council are applying for grants for Middlebrook and Gundy water supplies.