Last week Orange residents used 306 litres of water per person whereas Dubbo residents guzzled, poured and sprinkled 1136 litres. 

Temperatures in Dubbo soared in to the high 30s and peaked at 41.2 last Sunday.

Suma Park Dam is sitting at 89.24 per cent capacity and Orange residents are under level two water restrictions whereas Burrendong is almost down to half yet Dubbo residents have no restrictions.

A Dubbo City Council spokesperson told Fairfax Media that restrictions are not needed at this time.

Cr Davis said Orange people should be congratulated for their efforts and he hoped one day restrictions could be lifted but he could not see that happening in the next few years.

“Until we can secure our water we’ll have restrictions,” he said.

“People are starting to realise with the high temperatures and the dry days that the drought and the trying time we had two and a half years ago could easily come back.”

Cr Davis predicted that in the future water in regional Australia would become the most valuable resource and the people of Orange are leagues ahead of others when it comes to their attitude about the precious commodity.

“It would be nice not to have restrictions but the general opinion of people is one of caution,” he said.

The week before, the water consumption for Orange was 256 litres per person, Dubbo’s was 1068 litres per person.

Cr Davis said he was surprised Orange’s consumption had only risen by 50 litres per day.

“Around Christmas time and new year people generally want to water their gardens a bit more so I am very surprised and again people should be congratulated,” he said.

“The figures speak for themselves.”

About two months ago water was running over the spillway, Cr Davis said it was further evidence of how the weather can change in a heartbeat and people must remain vigilant.