Toowoomba Regional Council Moves Regional Centres to Immediate Medium Water Restrictions

starting today


Article heading image for Toowoomba Regional Council Moves Regional Centres to Immediate Medium Water Restrictions

Image: TRC

Council is taking action to commence medium-level water restrictions starting today (Tuesday September 18) for several regional communities across the Toowoomba Regional Council area. This decision has been made due to signs of stress on local groundwater sources. 

Mayor Paul Antonio said the earlier predictions by the Bureau of Meteorology that things would get worse before getting better have unfortunately come true, particularly for those communities that are not connected to the Toowoomba Bulk Water Supply Network.

“The communities affected by this decision include Brookstead, Cambooya, Cecil Plains, Clifton, Greenmount, Hodgson Vale, Pittsworth, Southbrook, Valeview all of which rely on bores for their water supply. Yarraman will also move to restrictions in line with other communities that rely on the Boondooma Dam as their water source.

“The drought conditions are causing significant stress on water supplies and Council bores are under pressure in a number of regional communities.

“Recent testing has identified changes in flow, aquifer level and trace elements in water being drawn from our acquifers,” he said.

“Medium level water restrictions will apply to Hodgson Vale, Valeview, Cambooya, Clifton, Greenmount, Pittsworth (including Brookstead and Southbrook), Cecil Plains and Yarraman. 

“Those communities currently connected to the Toowoomba Bulk Water Supply will not be affected by this decision because they are not reliant on aquifer supply.

 “This is the driest year for our region since 1901 and the decision to move to increase water restrictions will take pressure off local aquifers.

“Weather experts say Australia is moving into an El Nino period by the end of Spring, bringing dry and warm conditions. 

“Current forecasts from the Bureau of Meteorology indicate below-average rainfall and this means that various areas throughout our region are likely to move to higher restrictions in the future.

“We need the community’s help to reduce water consumption as the drought conditions continue to impact us all.  The more water we can save the better.

“Council will also look at other solutions to reduce the stress on our acquifers. 

“These include:

  • Implementing conservation measures;
  • Supplementing groundwater supplies by transporting water;
  • Re-starting non-operational bores; and
  • Using portable filtration systems to improve water quality in some systems.

“Our region has been badly affected by droughts and our neighbouring Councils have already taken steps. It won’t come as a surprise that we are at the point of restrictions.

“Toowoomba Region residents have demonstrated their ability to use water responsibly.

“As in the past we are asking residents to work with us through these water restrictions until our aquifers are replenished by rain.

 

Missed something? Catch up here!

 

17 September 2018




Listen Live!
Up Next