In the past two weeks, Chaffey Dam’s water level has risen from 20 per cent to above 35 per cent.

Starting on Saturday, Tamworth will go from level four to level two water restrictions.

The dam’s capacity was increased after its recent upgrade and Tamworth Regional Council’s water director Bruce Logan said in the old measurement, the dam would be more than half full.

The trigger point for Tamworth to move to level one water restrictions is 40 per cent.

While the water level continues to rise Mr Logan wouldn’t make any predictions about how high it would get.

“Given how wet our catchment area is at the moment, any rain we get should see those inflows continue,” he said.

“We are at 35 per cent at the moment – I don’t think it will get above 40 per cent without further significant rain. Five per cent of 100,000 litres is still quite a lot of water.”

Council has been criticised by some in the community for lifting water restrictions rather than letting the dam fill up. However Mr Logan said council consulted with the community about water restriction trigger points in its new drought management plan, which was introduced about six months ago.

“Based on that feedback, we adopted new trigger points for Chaffey dam’s increased capacity,” he said.

Tamworth residents will be allowed to use handheld hoses for two hours a day under level two restrictions.

Moonbi, Kootingal and Manilla will be eased to the lowest level of water restrictions, known as permanent water conservation measures, on Saturday.

Attunga remains on level one restrictions, while Nundle, Bendemeer and Barraba are still on permanent water conservation measures.

Council is sourcing water from the Peel River because of its high flow and will move to Dungowan Dam, which has reached its six-gigalitre capacity, once the flow slows down.