Water Restrictions Start July 1

THE Upper Hunter Shire Council have announced level 1 water restrictions will come into effect on July 1 in Aberdeen, Merriwa, Scone and Cassilis, while Murrurundi remains on level 6 restrictions.

Glenbawn Dam is at 51.6 percent capacity and while the restrictions have not been triggered by a threat to the water supply the Council wants to encourage responsible water use and proactively respond to drought conditions.

For the third consecutive year the towns of Aberdeen, Scone and Merriwa have had higher than average water consumption levels.

Scone and Aberdeen rose by 23 percent in the 2017/18 year and Merriwa by 29 percent.

This year water use has been more conservative in those towns, however they are still expected to reach high levels if drought conditions continue.

Murrurundi has been on level 6 restrictions since mid last year, with water coming from an emergency bore and being carted from Scone.

During level 1 restrictions residents are encouraged to:

• only water lawns and gardens between 6am to 10am and 4pm until 10pm and during the daylight saving period between 6am and 9am and 6pm until 9pm;
• wash cars with a bucket and rinse with a trigger hose on your lawn, and
• not wash walls or paved surfaces and use a broom instead.

While Aberdeen and Scone draw a water supply from Glenbawn Dam, other towns and villages are reliant on bores.

Council is reviewing their Drought Management and Emergency Response Plan to simplify levels and trigger points for restrictions which vary across the Shire.

Enforcement of the restrictions will start from September 1.

For more information on water restrictions visit Council’s website.