I live in Bendemeer and late January of this year watering of gardens was banned and advice was received that the “emergency bore will be commissioned soon”, however,  “soon” was then announced as about “six weeks”.

I do not know if it ever came on line.

Having a large tank, I switched to tank water and have not returned to “town” water yet.

The “Permanent Water Conservation” measures permit the use of sprinklers between 6pm and 8am, 14 hours of continuous watering permitted, that is every night without constraint. Can also use “hand held hoses, buckets and watering cans may be used for watering of lawns, gardens and vehicle washing at any time”. 

However; “washdown of hard surfaces not allowed unless a high-pressure cleaner is used”!

But you could put a sprinkler on the “hard surface” for 14 hours at a time.

Up until this time last year I had received 448mm of rain, by comparison this year I have received 

534mm, but that is only 86mm more than last year and yet we now have “open slather” permitted. 

Is it really thought that an additional 86mm will assist in providing for people to water 14 hours a day.

Why do we not have a Permanent Water Conservation plan that 

permits the use of sprinklers between 7pm and 9pm and 6am and 8am from September 1 through to April 1.

Just because the dam supplying the water may be 100 per cent full does not mean that we should just waste it. Save it for times of need. 

I notice that Tamworth has far more severe restrictions, accordingly its supplying dam must be low, but I cannot understand where Bendemeer has so much water stored. The river is very low, maybe its catchment area has received a great deal more rain than we in the village have received. Maybe the emergency bore is “on line”.

Cynthia Murray

Bendemeer