It is a step up in seriousness and people have to work harder to achieve 100 litres per person per day.
- Water director Bruce Logan
TAMWORTH residents could be asked to tighten their water use even further if there's no change in conditions.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
While there has been no indication from the council an additional level of restrictions will be added, more austere measures have been flagged.
People will be asked to reduce personal water use to 100 litres per day if Chaffey Dam's capacity falls below 10 per cent.
READ MORE:
Tamworth Regional Council water director Bruce Logan confirmed plans had been made to prepare for worsening drought conditions.
Since Level 5 restrictions were effected in September last year, people in Tamworth, Moonbi and Kootingal have been asked to limit personal use to 150 litres per day.
"That will change to 100 litres if the dam falls to 10 per cent," Mr Logan said.
"We are encouraging everyone to try and get down to 150 litres per person per day now, because it is going to get harder if we continue to see storages fall."
At the end of this week, Chaffey Dam's capacity had fallen to 13.1 per cent.
The dwindling supply might be a concern, however the council's Level 5 restrictions have gone some way to slowing the dam's depletion.
The council's highest level of restrictions came into effect on September 23 when Chaffey Dam was at 20.13 per cent.
Without significant rainfall and inflow into the dam, Chaffey could fall to 10 per cent by the end of summer.
By then, it is hoped a $39 million pipeline from the dam will be completed and help extend the remaining storage through to mid-2021.
He said residential use was already on target when evaporative air conditioner use was curtailed.
"I think that 150 litres per person per day is achievable," he said.
"Evaporative air conditioners make that more difficult to do.
"It is a step up in seriousness and people have to work harder to achieve 100 litres per person per day."
The council sees evaporative air-conditioners as one of the biggest factors in excessive water use.
Mr Logan said the council planned to introduce rebates to encourage people to get their air-con units serviced.