THE council will turn off a bulk water filling station that has accounted for almost half of all consumption in one village.
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Tamworth Regional Council recently voted to limit access to the Attunga bulk water filling station, which has placed "additional stress" on the town's groundwater supplies.
The council believed carters were coming in from Tamworth and trucking water back to the city for outdoor use.
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Outdoor watering with the town supply in Tamworth is presently banned under level 5 restrictions.
Attunga remains on level 1 restrictions.
But the volume of water coming through the bulk filling station was outstripping total residential consumption in the village.
It was also churning through more water than the limestone mine near Attunga.
According to the council's data, residents have been using 65 kilolitres per day and the mine 75 kilolitres per day.
The bulk water filling station has been issuing 115 kilolitres per day.
The council's groundwater monitoring was "positive", but it was recommended the councillors take a conservative approach to the supply.
The council's manager of water and waste operations, Dan Coe, said the machine would be turned off on December 1.
"Recently, we started a bulk water filling station at Attunga and that has been impacted by water carters coming from Tamworth, we believe, and bringing water back in for outdoor use," he said.
December 1 looms as a crucial date for the city's short-term water management.
With flow expected to cease in the Peel River from then, authorities will be closely monitoring what the effect will be on nearby groundwater supplies.
"At this stage, groundwater seems to be maintaining its levels," Mr Coe said.
"Nothing is certain as the drought continues on; we will just continue to monitor and see what the effect of no flow in the Peel River will be on the water system in Attunga."
The Attunga station will remain open to licensed potable water carters until the Tamworth, Moonbi and Kootingal water supply returns to level 3 restrictions.