Tweed Shire Council has adopted a new Drought and Water Restrictions Policy to secure the Tweed's water supply in the face of operational issues and extreme weather events brought about by climate change.
Water and Wastewater Business and Assets Manager Anthony Burnham said Council had updated water restrictions, water-use targets and compliance and enforcement measures based on community feedback following recent droughts and floods.
"The year 2019 was our driest year, yet the 2022 flood was the worst in our recorded history and the dry El Nino looks set to be arriving soon," Mr Burnham said.
"Extreme weather events are increasing in severity, putting our supply of drinking water at risk.
"We have learned from these events to come up with a better approach to saving water whenever we are at risk of running out – it's an approach that everyone can readily understand and follow.
"People won't immediately feel any impact from the new policy until we need to trigger water restrictions, but it is important that everyone knows the key changes so they can prepare and readily follow the revised restrictions in the future."
Certified gold for plain language, the new policy clarifies when Council will introduce and lift water restrictions, based largely on water levels at Clarrie Hall Dam. Other triggers exist, such as poor river water quality and issues with the water supply network.
Four levels of water restrictions remain for the Tweed and Uki water supply systems. Tyalgum follows a 2-level approach due to its unique operating conditions.
Each restriction level aims to help the Tweed community achieve a specific water-use target.
After level 4, Council can introduce emergency measures that will limit water use to 100 litres per person a day, for essential use only.
The revised water restrictions detail what people and businesses can and cannot do and prescribe water-use targets that everyone in the Tweed must follow when restrictions are introduced.
The restrictions aim to initially reduce water use outdoors and focus on water used at home rather than in businesses, as water is used mostly at home.
Water-based businesses that do not directly support public health and safety may have to find other ways of doing business, such as not using town water.
Water carting remains banned from the Tyalgum and Uki water supplies at all times. Carting water from the Tweed to other local government areas is banned whenever water restrictions are in place.
Mr Burnham said these, and other measures outlined in the new policy, aimed to ensure the community always had water.
"The Tweed River is the source of most of our water supply," he said.
"As the flow of water in the river decreases and our water supply relies solely on releases from Clarrie Hall Dam, things will quickly become serious.
"It's only by working together by following these water restrictions that we will save water and ensure our precious water supply lasts as long as possible."
Council can fine anyone for breaching water restrictions – the maximum penalty currently is $2,200.
If someone repeatedly misuses water, they may have their water service restricted or even disconnected.
Even when there are no water restrictions, Council asks everyone in the Tweed to limit their water use to 160 litres per person a day.
Mr Burnham said with El Nino soon to arrive, meeting Target 160 was even more important.
"In setting our revised triggers for water restrictions, Council assumes we are all meeting Target 160," he said.
"If we are not, we will need to introduce higher levels of restrictions earlier.
"This is because our water supply would last just 12 months if we were all meeting Target 160 and the Clarrie Hall Dam was full at the start of a drought.
"Since December, we have been using too much water. At the moment, we're using 174 litres of water per person a day, on average. I urge everyone to save water at all times, indoors and outdoors."
