On Wednesday, up to 50 Manilla residents blockaded the filling station in protest of water carters using it to "top up pools in Tamworth".

Many of the councillors disagreed with the civil disobedience, with Manilla's-own Jim Maxwell labelling it an "overreaction", but all understood the concerns and frustration of residents.

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Tamworth mayor Col Murray said the future of Manilla's bulk filling station would be discussed at a councillor water workshop on Tuesday, which had already been planned before the blockade.

"The water security for Manilla is still quite strong, in reality there is still potentially years of supply out there," Cr Murray said.

"I can understand people's concerns, but when you start blocking public facilities, some might argue that is a little too far.

"However, people have the right to protest and this is what democracy is all about. People want to express their views and are doing it in a strong way."

Cr Murray said without pre-emptying the outcome of Tuesday's decision, "there may be a shift in council's policy".

Glenn Inglis said he was "a great believer in people power, but not in taking the law in to our own hands".

"Whilst community frustration with water supplies is understandable, it is inappropriate to take the law into your own hands to achieve your individual sense of justice," Cr Inglis said.

"We should revisit using potable water for swimming pools. That's always made me a little uncomfortable. I think it should be done with bore water, which is what council does."

Cr Maxwell said he'd previously raised the issue and although he saw both sides of the "complex" debate, he was disappointed in the attitude of the protesters.

"It's perhaps a little misguided, not all of that water is going to pools, much is going to residents and farms," he said.

"I think it's an overreaction, I'm never in favour of civil disobedience. They're holding people to ransom because there's people who would like to get water that won't go while they're there."

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The towns of Manilla and Barraba are both supplied by Split Rock Dam and have a combined total of use between 400 and 600 megalitres a year. Split Rock Dam is currently at 0.8 per cent capacity, which is roughly 3176 megalitres.

Deputy mayor Phil Betts said the council would put more effort in to getting information out to residents.

"I think when everyone has got the facts, it's easier for us to sit down as a rational community and come up with the best options," he said.

"The reality is, Manilla's water supply is more secure than other places, which is why they are only on level three water restrictions.

"With water the way it is now, everyone is at a heightened level of anxiety. We're in uncharted territory, so we are all one and we need to work together."

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Mark Rodda understood the concerns of residents, particularly when "we don't know when we'll have the rain to fill those depleted storages".

Cr Rodda said many used social media as a source of news, which was often filled with misinformation.

"I think it would be good to have the council get in to those pages and directly deliver the correct information," he said.

Cr Rodda also encouraged Manilla residents to write to councillors before Tuesday's meeting, so they "could make an informed decision".

Juanita Wilson said water had to be treated as a regional issue and communities had "to be mindful of each other".

"Changes in Manilla will have broader implications, because Manilla and Barraba are being treated as one water user," she said.

"Behaviour needs to be legal, but there is an issue there about prioritising what water is used for."

While Charles Impey appreciated the passion of residents, he pointed out topping up pools with the water might not pass the pub test, but it wasn't illegal.

Helen Tickle said councillors were aware of the concerns and would address them at the workshop.

A number of Manilla residents complained Tamworth Regional Council took their water needs for granted.

However several councillors pointed to a number of large water projects in the town the council was funding, such the $15m water treatment plant and an $850,000 pipeline which was fast tracked.

Cr Russell Webb did not return the Leader's calls.