Orange City Council was told this week an increased allocation of 162 megalitres would be available in the next 12 months.

Technical Services director Ian Greenham said the allocation had been gained after council took ownership of a dam near the Shiralee housing development.

The dam came with a water allocation for supply from the river which the city would now be able to use.

"We have a successful application of another 162 megalitres to be transferred from Hawkes Dam down to there to start pumping from July 1," he said.

Council has emptied the dam as it posed a potential long-term flooding threat to the housing developments.

Cr Jason Hamling had previously asked about how council could increase its pumping allocation from the river.

"That's great news about more water we can pump from the Macquarie River," he said.

Cr Kevin Duffy also backed the plan.

"I think it's a great result what we're getting there, and we're coming along with pipeline," he said.

The council meeting was told it had been unable to pump any water from the Macquarie River since November after its allocation for 2020-21 was used up.

Orange's water supply is now at just over 70 per cent full.

While Suma Park Dam is full Spring Creek Dam is 66.29 per cent full.

Council figures also revealed how frugal Orange residents are continuing to be with water use.

Under the current Level 2 water restrictions the target is to not exceed 220 litres per person per day.

Orange is currently using just 138 litres per person per day.

Mayor Reg Kidd said the usage was well below other areas.

He said he heard a radio report recently that people in northern NSW and Queensland were keen to get their water consumption below 320 litres per person per day.

"And the next time they have a dry spell they want to limit their showers to six minutes and if you're washing your hair seven minutes. I thought heaven forbid, look where we are," he said.

The council was also told a report on the East Orange water harvesting scheme would soon be presented.

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