The 'green drought' we are experiencing may be browned in the coming months due to predicted 70 per cent chance of El Nino conditions (according to the World Meteorological Organisation), bringing low rainfall and soaring temperatures, catalysts for drought conditions.

Currently Orange is on level two water restrictions, but with our water supplies steadily declining, I ask why we are waiting for 50 per cent levels to enforce level three restrictions?

In the article published in the Central Western Daily on April 16 (‘Suma Park Dam drops below 60 per cent) mayor Reg Kidd said level three water restrictions would not come into force “until storage hit 50 per cent”.

Well, it is near impossible for a concerned resident to see how close we really are as Orange's water security website hasn't updated water storage levels since May.

On the main council site, Suma Park's water level is at 47.37 per cent. In May 2010, when we were at 23 per cent capacity, we had level five restrictions. We can't wait for backup bores and pipelines to save us if the need arises.

Orange, due to its geography, has a small catchment area and therefore water security issues.

The council should be congratulated for storm water harvesting schemes, however this drought may have a long way to go yet, and it does not mean we should not become complacent with our water usage.

Level three restrictions ask for 220 litres per person per day, and on Septemper 20 Orange residents were using 178 litres per person per day. We are already well under the limit, however council need to make it official for the future of our water heading into warmer weather.

This summer will be dry and bushfire prone, and we already lost water to the Mount Canobolas fire, so how will we be able to protect ourselves in the future?

I think it's time to go to level three and remain vigilant; manicured flowers will mean nothing if we can’t have a shower in the future … or even a glass of water.