In response to the long spell of dry weather and the current very hot and dry conditions, treatment plants for some of the towns in the region are under pressure to maintain supply at current rates of demand. Source water supplies are at a point where they need to be managed to ensure ongoing supplies will be available into the future.
Biggenden and Mount Perry will be progressed to Level 2 water restrictions as of 12pm midday Friday 27 October 2023, with all other towns being monitored closely for the time being and remaining on Level 1 permanent conservation measures.
Customers are encouraged to show restraint in their water demand and adhere to a fair use approach to water consumption so that any further increase in restrictions can be delayed for as long as possible. Wherever possible, please avoid outdoor water use in the heat of the day, adhere to the alternate days outdoor water use plans and use efficient methods of watering that only apply water to a surface as fast as it can absorb it (no pooling of water). Penalties do apply for breaches.
Refer to the table below for restrictions on water usage from the Drought Management Urban Water procedure. You can find the full document and further information here: https://www.northburnett.qld.gov.au/living/water-services/
RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF WATER FROM THE NORTH BURNETT REGIONAL COUNCIL’S WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS |
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| Usage/Purpose | Level 1 (PCM) | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 (Emergency) | |
| 1 | Private lawns and gardens ‐ watering | Efficient irrigation or handheld hose only.
[Mundubbera only: Odd numbered houses on odd dates; Even numbered houses on even dates; no watering on 31st of a month] |
Efficient irrigation 8pm-6am with timer; or handheld hose only.
[All towns: Odd numbered houses on odd dates and even numbered houses on even dates; No watering on 31st of a month] |
Handheld hose 8pm-6am, or containers on gardens only. No watering of lawns. | No hoses, sprinklers, irrigation.
Containers filled directly from taps can be used 8pm-6am. Lawn areas must not be watered at any time. |
Internal water uses only |
| 2 | Public gardens ‐ watering | Efficient irrigation, handheld hose only, or truck pods | Efficient irrigation 8pm-6am with timer; handheld hose only or truck pods | Restricted to watering from pods on trucks | Restricted to watering from pods on trucks with permit | Internal water uses only |
| 3 | Filling/topping up of ponds | Handheld hose only | Handheld hose from 8pm-6am | Handheld hose from 8pm-6am. Initial fill Not Permitted | Not permitted | Internal water uses only |
| 4 | Fountains | Permitted. Top-up by handheld hose only | Permitted only if recycling water. Top-up by handheld hose only 8pm-6am | Permitted only if recycling water. Top up or initial fill not permitted. | Not Permitted | Internal water uses only |
| 5 | Paved areas/ hard surfaces ‐ cleaning | Permitted | Only using pressure washer or efficient methods (Not hosing) | Only by professional services using pressure washer | Not Permitted | Internal water uses only |
| 6 | Private
swimming pools or spas or tanks– filling or topping up |
Permitted. Top-up by handheld hose only | Permitted. Top-up by handheld hose only 8pm-6am | Not Permitted to fill or top-up. | Not Permitted to fill or top-up. | Internal water uses only |
| 7 | Farm dams – topping up/filling | Permitted. Top-up by handheld hose only 8pm-6am. No new dams filled. | Permitted. Top-up by handheld hose only 8pm-6am. No new dams filled. | Not Permitted except with water carted from outside town catchment | Not Permitted except with water carted from outside town catchment | Internal water uses only |
| 8 | Farm tanks – topping up/filling | Permitted | Permitted. Top-up by handheld hose only | Permitted. Top-up by handheld hose only 8pm-6am | Not Permitted except with water carted from outside town catchment | Internal water uses only |
| 9 | Sports grounds, showgrounds, parks, schools, pools, and caravan parks ‐ watering | Efficient irrigation, handheld hose only, or truck pods | Efficient irrigation 8pm-6am with timer; handheld hose only, or truck pods | Restricted to watering gardens only from pods on trucks | Restricted to watering gardens only from pods on trucks with permit | Internal water uses only |
| 10 | Commercial market garden or plant nursery – watering of plants | Permitted | Efficient irrigation or handheld hose only | Essential water uses only as per approved Water Management Plan | Essential water uses only as per approved Water Management Plan | Internal water uses only |
| 11 | Window
cleaning |
Permitted | Permitted with efficient methods (not hosing) | Only by professional services using efficient methods | Not Permitted | Internal water uses only |
| 12 | Commercial water
tankers ‐ filling |
Normal operation (Permitted carriers only) | Only for customers within North Burnett Region | Only for customers within town catchment area | Not Permitted- Service closed | Internal water uses only |
| 13 | Road works water truck filling | By agreement (Normal operations) | By individual agreement only | Not Permitted | Not Permitted | Internal water uses only |
| 14 | Water Dispensers | Normal operation-permitted | Normal operation-permitted | To people living in town catchment area only (includes travellers) | Not Permitted-Service closed | Internal water uses only |
| 15 | Food transport vehicles ‐ cleaning | Normal operation-permitted | Normal operation-permitted | Essential water uses only as per approved Water Management Plan | Not Permitted | Internal water uses only |
| 16 | Other vehicles ‐ cleaning | Normal operation-permitted (only on grassed areas) | Normal operation-permitted (only on grassed areas) | Not Permitted except at dedicated washdown facilities | Not Permitted | Internal water uses only |
| 17 | Construction industry ‐ use of water | Normal operation-permitted | Normal operation-permitted | Internal water uses only | Internal water uses only | Internal water uses only |
| 18 | Commercial Premises | Normal operation-permitted | Normal operation-permitted | Internal water uses only | Internal water uses only | Internal water uses only as per approved Water Management Plan |
| 19 | Industrial Premises | Normal operation-permitted | Normal operation-permitted | Internal water uses only as per approved Water Management Plan | Internal water uses only as per approved Water Management Plan | Internal water uses only as per approved Water Management Plan |
| 20 | House Washing | Normal operation-permitted | Only using pressure washer or efficient methods (Not hosing) | Only by professional services using pressure washer | Not Permitted | Internal water uses only |
| 21 | Any other purpose | Normal operation-permitted | By permission only | Not Permitted | Not Permitted | Internal water uses only |