A few months ago, just after the dam’s upgrade was completed, level four water restrictions were imposed on Tamworth after the dam dropped below 35 per cent (or 20 per cent in the old measurement).

Today, it’s sitting at more than 80 per cent and if the weatherman’s predictions come to fruition, it could hit 100 per cent – or 100,000 megalitres – by the end of the week.

Every per cent Chaffey rises is setting and breaking a new record, after the upgrade gave it an extra 38,000 megalitres of room.

Tamworth Regional Council’s water director Bruce Logan said the rain couldn’t have come at a better time, with the recently-completed upgrade giving the dam’s additional capacity.

“It’s fantastic, the augmentation was finished in May and here we are in September with 80 per cent looking at 100,” Mr Logan said.

Mr Logan said to hit 100 per cent, the region would need another 25mm to 50mm of rain “relatively soon” while the ground is still wet.

And don’t expect more water restrictions anytime soon.

“It’s so much more additional water – I’d be confident even if it didn’t rain – we aren’t looking at water restrictions for a couple of years,” Mr Logan said.

Dungowan Dam is as full as it gets without overflowing, at 99.9 per cent, with just under 6300 megalitres. Lake Keepit was down to the single figures in May, but now it’s at 67 per cent (287,000 megalitres) and rising.

Split Rock Dam has struggled this year, getting as low as 4 per cent – so low waterskiers had to look out for rogue fence posts and tree stumps.

It’s now at 21 per cent, which may not sound like much, but with 89,000 megalitres it’s holding more water than Chaffey and Dungowan put together.