WATER restrictions have been eased at Nundle after some good recent rain and a rise in the flow of the Peel River above the village.
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Under the relaxed rules, users of the town water supply in Nundle can again use sprinklers and fixed hoses with trigger nozzles between 4pm and 9am.
Some good rain since Easter and fresh flows in the Peel River, which provides water to the Nundle town supply, have led to Tamworth Regional Council moving Nundle from the previous Level 2 rules back to the permanent conservation levels.
“The cumulative effect of some good falls of rain in the area has been an increased flow in the Peel River,” council water director Bruce Logan said.
The flow in the river had increased from last Monday to 359 megalitres a day at the Taroona Gauge, which is downstream of Nundle.
Despite the good news at Nundle, the rainfalls haven’t translated into substantial inflow into Chaffey Dam, which supplies Tamworth with its water.
At Nundle, water is drawn from the Peel River pump station well adjacent to the weir.
“The well water level has risen to 4.7m below the top of the well,” Mr Logan said.
“Under the drought management plan, permanent water conservation measures apply when the water level in the Peel River pump well drops 6m below the top of the well.”
Permanent water conservation measures allow the use of sprinklers, sprays, microsprays and fixed hoses at any time between after 4pm and before 9am.
Hand-held hoses with trigger nozzles, and buckets or watering cans, can be used to water lawns and gardens and to wash vehicles. The measures also apply in Manilla, Kootingal/Moonbi, Bendemeer and Barraba.
Attunga is on Level 2 water restrictions, while Tamworth City remains on Level 3 water restrictions, with all use of hoses and sprinklers banned.