Central Coast Level 1 water restrictions likely as dam levels fall

Central Coast residents face the introduction of level one water restrictions within weeks as dam levels continue to fall. Here’s what you can and can’t do when level 1 comes in.

How do you save water?

Central Coast residents face the introduction of level one water restrictions within weeks with little sign of significant rain in weather forecasts.

Central Coast Council has flagged the coming restrictions with a message to residents to use water wisely, as storage in the region’s primary dam continues to fall from its peak in July 2017.

Central Coast water storage levels graph.

The water in Mangrove Creek Dam now sits at 54.46 per cent. Level 1 water restrictions will come into effect when the dam reaches 50 per cent.

Sydney water users will go to level one restrictions from this Saturday with

Central Coast Council Director Water and Sewer Bileen Nel, said council had decided to impose restrictions earlier than it had in previous droughts as part of a range of measures taken to ensure the security of our water supply during times of lower than usual rainfall.

Mangrove Creek Dam is approaching the 50 per cent trigger level for water restrictions.

“We’ve had some rain this year and the Coast still looks green, so many people don’t realise the region is drought affected,” Ms Nel said.

“During and after last decade’s Millennium Drought, key improvements included installing new pipelines between Hunter Water and the Coast and between Mardi Dam and Mangrove Creek Dam, new pump stations, improvements at water treatment plants and the establishment of more groundwater sources.

“However, we are calling on all community members to also do their bit to help conserve water by using it wisely.”

Mangrove Dam during the Milennium Drought.

LEVEL 1 DOS AND DON’TS

Under Level 1 restrictions, you can:

■ Water gardens and lawns with hand held hoses fitted with a trigger nozzle or drip irrigation systems, any day of the week before 10am and after 4pm.

■ Use a watering can at any time on any day

■ Wash cars and boats with a bucket or hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or pressure cleaner 

■ Flush boat motors with a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle

■ Wash external building surfaces, including windows, retaining walls, structures (eg. pergolas) and outdoor furniture, provided a trigger nozzle hose or pressure cleaner is used.

■ Fill up new pools using the town water supply

■ Top up existing pools using the town water supply

■ Hosing of paths and driveways is NOT permitted

Avoid hosing paths or driveways.

WATER SAVERS

Residents can save water by doing simple things such as:  

*limiting showers to less than four minutes

*fixing leaking taps and toilets

*using the half-flush button on toilets

*running dishwashers and washing machines when full

*turning off taps when cleaning teeth

*reporting water loss in streets, parks and gardens to Council.

* water gardens before 10am or after 4pm to avoid the heat of the day

*reduce water use by using a trigger nozzle on all hand-held hoses

*wash vehicles on the grass, using a bucket or trigger nozzle

*avoid hosing paths or driveways.

MAYOR’S MESSAGE

Mayor Jane Smith said as part of informing Council’s Community Strategic Plan, Coast residents had shown a strong desire to see the region’s environmental assets protected and water used responsibly.

“Central Coast residents and businesses have shown a strong desire for us to ensure we are resilient in times of drought,” Mayor Smith said.

“If we all practice water-saving behaviours now, we may be able to avoid reaching the very low dam levels which saw us on stringent Level 4 water restrictions during the Millennium Drought.”