Suma Park drops below level 5A restriction trigger point

Total water storage in now at 24.6 per cent, with the trigger point for 5A water restrictions at 25 per cent.

Mayor Reg Kidd said the community was responding well to level five restrictions and the move to 5A would not occur before Christmas as a result, but warned of tough times ahead.

"With the very hot weather, the temptation is there to use more water," he said.

"We're meeting our water use targets and that's what's behind the decision not to go to the old Level 5A restrictions at this time - the amount of water we'd save by the switch isn't significant, especially when we're already meeting the Level 5A target."

Cr Kidd said at this time of year, people were thinking about Christmas and the holiday break.

"It's not going to be an effective time for them to get their heads around a new slightly different set of restrictions," he said.

However, the council has urged residents to continue to do all they could during the holiday period to save water, in order to make water supplies last as long as possible.

This week, consumption rose from 147 litres per person per day to 150 litres, however it was still down on last year's usage, which was more than 200 litres.

Level 5A restrictions are only slightly tougher for residents, with the Sunday hour-long period for watering plants reduced to half an hour, while public water features would stop.

Under current restrictions, lawn watering and car washing at home are not allowed.

Council chief executive officer David Waddell said the council was continuing to work hard on water management.

"On the demand side the community is doing well, but we're continuing to work on the supply side as well, to do all we can to push back the day when we could run out of water," he said.

"The long-term forecasts don't mention rain over the holiday period, so the community of Orange should come back from the holiday break expecting tougher restrictions to come into force."

Mr Waddell said the application had been made under Critical Needs legislation to lower the Macquarie Pipeline trigger point and the council was optimistic of a result soon.

He said work on the Orange to Cowra pipeline, proposed wetland and weirs for the Blackmans Creek stormwater harvesting system was ongoing.

Meanwhile, criteria for possible level six restrictions are still under review.

"We're working towards an announcement of those details early in the new year, to give people time to prepare," Mr Waddell said.