THE lack of decent rainfall has forced the tightening of water restrictions in Nundle and Manilla.
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At the weekend, restrictions in Manilla moved from permanent conservation measures to Level 1, while Nundle moved from Level 1 to Level 2, due to ongoing lack of rain in the river catchment for each village.
Tamworth Regional Council water sustainability officer Ian Lobban said flow in the Namoi River upstream of Manilla was tapering off, with no rainfall predicted in the coming weeks, and at Nundle, the Peel River had decreased to less than 2 megalitres a day at the Taroona gauge, downstream from the village.
“Under the Drought Management Plan, Level 2 restrictions apply at Nundle when the level in the Peel River pump well draws down more than 6.1m,” Mr Lobban said.
The end of daylight saving this weekend brings with it a change to permitted watering times across the Tamworth Regional Council area.
Under the region’s water conservation guidelines, the times move to earlier times in the evening.
Mr Lobban said the watering times were adjusted each year for each level of water restrictions when daylight saving started and finished.
“There are three different restriction levels currently in place across the different water supplies in the region,” he said.
“However, regardless of whether you are in an area where a sprinkler is allowed, there is bucket watering only or one where handheld hoses can be used, all watering must be between 5pm and 7pm following the end of daylight saving.”
The move out of daylight saving time also changes the watering time for those with aged and disabled exemptions to between 4pm and 6pm.
Those with exemptions can use a handheld hose to water for up to 15 minutes during a nominated period.
Mr Lobban said the council was asking those who had exemptions to call 6767 5555 and nominate when they wished to change their time to.