The forthcoming move to Level 3 restrictions was triggered when Chaffey Dam’s storage fell to 35 per cent of capacity on Monday.

Under the tough new measures, the use of all garden hoses and sprinklers – including dripper systems and microjet sprays – are banned.

Instead, residents must make do with just buckets for watering plants and washing vehicles, but only between 6pm and 8pm.

Tamworth Regional Council’s director of water enterprises Bruce Logan said every resident had a duty to stretch their water as far as possible.

He said there was no substantial rain forecast to fall in the Tamworth region for the remainder of the year.

“The level of water in Chaffey Dam has never before been so low before the start of summer,” he said.

“The dam’s water level dropped to 13.9 per cent in June 2007 and, without significant rain, there is obviously the possibility we will head back to those levels in the months ahead.”

Residents in three other parts of the Tamworth Regional Council area are not immune from tougher water conservation measures.

Saturday will see Attunga move to Level 2 restrictions, while both Nundle and Manilla will rise from permanent restrictions to Level 1.

Moonbi, Kootingal, Bendemeer and Barraba will all remain on permanent conservation measures until further notice.

The elderly and people with impaired mobility who have difficulty using buckets can apply for a special exemption to use hand-held hoses for 15 minutes twice a week.

Council recently resolved to have compliance staff and private security guards conduct out-of-hours patrols of the city once Level 3 restrictions were enacted.

The first two confirmed breaches result in warning letters, a third attracts a $220 fine and a fourth is punishable by the installation of a flow restrictor on the property.