MEDIA RELEASE 25 March 2007

Level 3.1 Water Restrictions Announcement

The use of sprinklers, irrigation systems and soaker hoses will be banned in the Hervey Bay City Council area under Level 3.1 Water Restrictions which come into force on Friday, March 30.

Wide Bay Water Corporation CEO Tim Waldron said continuing dry weather left no alternative to the tougher measures.

"Unfortunately summer rain did not arrive in sufficient quantity this year to fully replenish the city's water supply," he said. "It's now late March and Lake Lenthall is only 66% full."

Mr Waldron said this percentage did not include the extra capacity created by innovative gates installed this year which increased the lake's capacity from 17,800 megalitres to 29,500 megalitres.

"Winter on the Fraser Coast is generally dry so we need to carefully control the use of our remaining water until significant rain arrives," he said. "However, we've decided to introduce Level 3 in stages to give the community time to adjust in the hope that residents will respond positively, saving the need to introduce harsher stages."

Under the Level 3 restrictions WBWC hopes to reduce the city's daily usage to 15 megalitres, down from the current usage of 19 megalitres.

"We've targeted outside water-use first," said Mr Waldron, "because we know it can account for up to 50 per cent of household use. Hopefully this will help residents to rethink their water use, avoiding the need for more Level 3 measures."

Under the restrictions people can use a hand held-hose on their garden outside the hours of 8am to 4pm. They can still bucket water on to their garden at any time and they can fill up their swimming pool with a hand-held hose also outside the hours of 8am to 4pm.

He added: "Residents may also find they're eligible for a rebate on greywater systems, pool covers and other household Waterwise initiatives under the Queensland Government Home Waterwise Rebate Scheme."

Mr Waldron said that the new Level 3.1 restrictions also applied to commercial premises with landscape irrigation systems.

"Wide Bay Water will work with commercial businesses that require irrigation to maintain their core activities such as garden centres, nurseries and turf-related businesses," he said.

Level 3.1 Water restrictions which take effect on Friday, March 30, 2007:

• All sprinklers, irrigation systems and soaker hoses are banned at all times
• Hosing of driveways and paved areas is banned at all times
• All hand-held hosing is banned between 8am and 4pm except for the washing of vehicles and boats with a working trigger nozzle and for the flushing of boat motors.

For more details phone Denis Heron, Wide Bay Water Corporation, on 1300 808 888.