With Orange’s water supplies slipping below 40% of capacity, the city’s water restrictions will move to Level 4 from Saturday (6 April).
The main changes in the switch from Level 3 to Level 4 are:
- No watering lawns. Gardens only to be watered.
- Micro-sprays and soaker hoses can still be used, but the current odds and evens watering system (3 hours morning and 3 hours evening, every other day) is replaced with 2 hours a day (evening only 4pm-6pm) on two days a week (Wed and Sun)
- During those two periods, hand-held hoses with a trigger-nozzle limited to half an hour
- Suggested 5 minute time-limits on showers
- No new turf installed
Orange mayor Cr Reg Kidd said last night’s council meeting made a number of changes aimed at streamlining the changes between the restriction levels.
SAVING : A suggestion for residents to have shorter showers is on the is list of new water restrictions for Orange.
“The council was keen to balance the need for us all to seriously take the need to save water, against the practicalities for groups such as the elderly,” Cr Reg Kidd said. “While we’re moving from the system of watering every other day morning and night, to the much tougher approach of two hours on two days a week, we want to be fair to people who still want to use a hand-held hose.”
“This week we’ve had good rain across the region and that means our stormwater harvesting and the Macquarie Pipeline are both making good contributions. We would have reached the 40% milestone a lot sooner without these two extra sources of water, that other towns simply don’t have.
“Residents have done a great job when it comes to designing their gardens to suit the conditions. They’re leaders in region when it comes to water conservation. But, it’s important that we respond to the dropping storage levels, and with the drop below 40% of capacity we all need to tighten the belt when it comes to watering.
“Last night’s meeting modified the restrictions, so we want to give people time to find out about the details. The Level 4 restrictions come into effect from Saturday. We’re planning a major community awareness campaign to involve the community in discovering new ways to save water.”
Full details are on the council website
