That’s the message that was delivered to councillors this week when they were told suspending level three water restrictions until the new year would risk a quicker transition to level four and level five.

With the fear of tight water restrictions hanging over its heads Orange City Council heeded this advice and kept level three rules in place, although they opted to allow hand-held hoses for garden watering every second day, for an hour at a time. 

This decision can only be viewed as a sensible one.

While councillor Glenn Taylor had proposed deferring the restrictions until January, council chose to pick the more conservative route and ease the city into water conservation gently.

Even with this conservative approach council already anticipates Orange could enter level four water restrictions by the end of February assuming no inflows and maintained demand.

A move to level four restrictions is not something anyone wants to see.

Just over 10 years ago Orange residents were forced to monitor their shower time by limiting showers to only five minutes each.

Level four restrictions also inhibit the use of evaporation air conditioners.

Garden care during level four restrictions also becomes more difficult with watering periods reduced and permits needed to fill pools.

Level three restrictions won’t feel anywhere near as onerous.

The limited use of a hose to water will be viewed as sensible by most, particularly old people who would have struggled to water their gardens with buckets.

However there’s some fear it might make the introduction of level four restrictions early next year inevitable.

Water restrictions send a very important message to the community that water is an important resource that should not be taken for granted.

Surely the drought that’s devastated much of NSW has only helped to remind people what a precious resource it is.

Restrictions provide sensible guidelines for people who won’t voluntarily heed the water-wise message.

Introducing restrictions allows council to take a leading role in educating the community about our dire need to conserve water. 

What’s more, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone genuinely opposed to such restrictions.