LEVEL: Orange's water supplies are sitting at 23 per cent and a dip to 15 per cent will trigger Level 6 water restrictions. What levels are other towns on? Photo: CARLA FREEDMAN
With Orange moving towards Level 6 water restrictions, it's worth looking around the region to see where other towns in the Central West sit with their water conservation.
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Different levels mean different things in every town, so here's a run down on where everyone sits, and what they can and can't do with town water.
CANOWINDRA, EUGOWRA, GRENFELL, BLAYNEY SHIRE, CARGO, CUDAL, MANILDRA
Level 4 water restrictions
Central Tablelands Water (CTW) has raised water restrictions across the entire network to level four for the first time since 2006-07.
General manager of CTW Gavin Rhodes said Lake Rowlands was now at 42 per cent, and although the normal level at which they would introduce level four was 40 per cent, it was important they acted early.
WHAT ARE THE RULES?
- Water gardens on Wednesday and Sunday evenings between 6pm and 8pm for a maximum of 1 hour. Microsprays, drip systems, soaker hoses only.
- Watering of lawns, irrigation of new turf or washing down walls is not permitted.
- Pools can be topped up during the same times as watering gardens etc. Pool covers must be used.
- Washing of cars is permitted with bucket only on lawn.
- Hand held trigger hoses are allowed for up to 1 hour per allocated watering day to water gardens only.
- Filling pools for first time. Only with CTW permission.
BATHURST
EXTREME water restrictions
WHAT ARE THE RULES?
- Watering lawns is NOT PERMITTED at all during extreme water restrictions.
- Watering ONLY permitted on Wednesdays and Sundays between 6pm and 9pm; AND
- Maximum of 30 minutes watering time during these hours, using one hand held hose with a trigger nozzle OR one soaker hose OR one microspray system OR one other under-mulch irrigation system. Sprinklers of any kind are NOT permitted.
- Vehicle washing is NOT permitted at home
- Washing of windscreens, lights, windows, mirrors and number plates permitted at service stations
- Washing of cars permitted at registered car washes
- No filling of new pools using Bathurst water supply
- Topping up of pools will ONLY be allowed with an approved Council Pool Permit
- Washing hard surfaces: Washing of outdoor hard surfaces such as driveways and footpaths NOT permitted EXCEPT for health and safety purposes (washing only allowed in immediately affected area and with use of a high pressure/low volume water device).
- Indoor activities: 4 minute showers OR 1 bath/person/day (150mm deep)
- Garden features and temporary childrens pools: top up and filling is NOT permitted.
DUBBO
Level 4 water restrictions
WHAT ARE THE RULES?
- Residents are able to water both their garden and lawns. Outdoor watering is permitted for a maximum of 30 minutes on Wednesdays and Sundays outside of 9am and 6pm.
- Handheld hoses with an on/off trigger, water efficient drip systems and programmable watering systems are all allowed.
- Evaporative air conditioners can be used at any time of the day or night. Previously, air con use was restricted to between 7am and midnight.
- There's no time limit on the length of a shower. Under the old level four restrictions, showers at level four had to be limited to five minutes.
- New turf can be watered to help it get established. Residents are encouraged to use suitable ground preparation with soil wetting agents. However, a turf watering plan must be submitted to council for approval.
- Paved surfaces can be cleaned with a bucket.
- Cars, boats and trailers can be cleaned with the use of a trigger hose at any time. Pressure washers can also be used.
- Private pools can be topped up at any time of the day.
- The daily target per person per day has increased from 245 litres to 280 litres.
- The topping up or filling of water features can only be undertaken to maintain fish life. New water features cannot be filled.
- Swimming pools can only be filled for the first time with the permission of council.
LITHGOW
No water restrictions are currently in place.
The major water storages in the area include Farmers Creek Dam #2, Oberon Dam, Lake Lyell and Lake Wallerawang. Only Farmers Creek Dam #2 and Oberon Dam supply drinking water.
MOLONG
Level 5 water restrictions
WHAT ARE THE RULES?
- Residential Gardens: No sprinklers, micro-sprays or soaker hoses. One hand-held hose with trigger nozzle, buckets, watering cans and drip systems may be used for 30 minutes between 6pm & 7pm each Sunday
- Water Features: No filling or topping up
- New Turf: No watering
- Swimming Pools: No filling or topping up
- Pop-Up Children's Pools: No filling or topping up
- Washing Cars at Home: Not permitted
- Baths and Showers: Suggested limit of 3 minutes per shower or one shallow bath per day.
- Washing Machines: Full loads only
- Evaporative Coolers: Only to be used between 7am and midnight each day.
YEOVAL
Level 4 water restrictions
WHAT ARE THE RULES?
- Watering of Lawns: Not Permitted
- Watering of Gardens: Microsprays, drip systems and soaker hoses may be used each Wednesday and Sunday between 6pm and 8pm (daylight savings time); Watering systems, non-fixed sprinklers, hand-held hoses not permitted at any time.
- Irrigation of new turf: Not Permitted
- Topping up, filling of water features: Permitted
- Washing down walls or paved surfaces: Not Permitted
- Topping up swimming pools/spas: Permitted only between 7am-9am and 6pm-8pm each day. Pool cover must be used
- Inflatable or temporary children's pools: Permitted
- Washing cars at home: Permitted only with bucket on lawn between 9am-noon
- Use of evaporative air-conditioners: Permitted only between 7am-midnight each day
- Construction industry eg. Mortar or concrete mix: Permitted
- Construction - wash down, paint preparation, curing etc: Business must implement and comply with Water Saving Action Plan.
CUMNOCK
Level 2 water restrictions
WHAT ARE THE RULES?
- Watering of lawns/gardens: Watering Systems, non-fixed sprinklers, hand-held hoses, micro-sprays, drip systems, soaker hoses only - permitted for a maximum of two hours per day from 6am to 9am and 6pm to 9pm every second day as per the odds and evens system.
- Topping up, filling garden water features: Permitted
- Irrigation of new turf: Permitted for one week after laying after which Level 2 restrictions on watering lawns applies.
- Washing down walls of paved surfaces: Not Permitted.
- Topping up private swimming pools/spas: Permitted from 7am to 9am and 6pm to 8pm.
- First fill of private swimming pools: Permitted from 7am to 9am and 6pm to 8pm.
- Washing cars at home: Permitted with bucket and rinse with trigger hose on lawn from 9am to 12 noon.
COWRA
In the Cowra Shire, WaterNSW manages Wyangala Dam and its releases into the Lachlan River. The current allocation for Cowra, set by WaterNSW, remains at 100 per cent.
Council maintains a vigilant watch on the dam level and responds to the monthly water allocation statements issued by WaterNSW.
The only village in the Cowra Shire that is currently on water restrictions is Gooloogong, which receives its water from Central Tablelands Water (CTW) via Lake Rowlands.
PARKES
Level 2 water restrictions
WHAT ARE THE RULES?
- Domestic users can water with microsprays, sprinklers and drip systems after 5:00pm and before 10:00am on alternate days:
- For odd numbered properties (1,3,5..etc) the days are Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
- For even numbered properties (2,4,6.. etc) the days are Wednesday, Friday, Sunday.
- No watering with sprinklers/microsprays is permitted on Mondays.
- Hand held hoses are not restricted.
FORBES
Level 1 water restrictions
WHAT ARE THE RULES?
- Watering of lawns permitted between the hours of 6pm - 10am daily by watering systems, microsprayers, drip systems, soaker hoses, non fixed sprinklers and hand held hoses only.
- Watering of Residential Gardens between the hours of 6pm - 10am daily by watering systems, microsprayers, drip systems, soaker hoses, non fixed sprinklers and hand held hoses only.
- Irrigation of new turf permitted for one week after laying during the above times.
- Washing down walls or paved surfaces NOT permitted.
- Topping up private swimming pools permitted.
- First fill of private swimming pools permitted, with a written approval letter from Council.
- Washing cars at home permitted with a bucket and rinse with a trigger hose on lawn at any time of the day.
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