Tablelands Regional Council has introduced new water restrictions for the Atherton - Tolga area and increased the water restriction level in the Herberton - Ravenshoe area.
Dry conditions over the past seven months, combined with high water usage by residents and significant use of water during recent bushfires, have adversely affected levels in streams and dams.
Data from the two major bore pumps servicing the Atherton area show they have been operating up to 153 hours per week over the past three weeks, compared to a normal winter pattern of around 40 hours per week.
There are now Level 1 water restrictions for the area serviced by the Atherton water supply, which includes Atherton, Kairi, Rangeview, Tandara, Tinaroo township and Tolga.
Level 1 restrictions in place for the Herberton, Millstream, Mt Garnet, Ravenshoe and Tabo water supply areas have been increased to Level 2, which affects Herberton, Bellview Estate, Cassowary Heights Estate, High Country Estate, Millstream Estate, Mt Garnet, Ravenshoe and Tabo.
Water restriction levels are:
Level 1: sprinklers, soaker hoses or similar devices are permitted to be used for two hours between 6 am and 8 am and for two hours between 5 pm and 7 pm on odd or even days, depending on the respective odd or even house number or rural address number. Hand-held hoses are permitted at any time. Watering by means of an open tap to which a hose is not connected is not permitted at any time.
Level 2: a hand-held hose is permitted to be used for one hour between 7 am and 8 am daily and a sprinkler, soaker hose or similar device is permitted to be used for one hour between 5 pm and 6 pm daily. Only one hand-held hose or sprinkler per household is permitted at any one time. Watering by means of an open tap to which a hose is not connected is not permitted at any time.
Property owners who have installed approved programmable timers can make an application to alter watering times and dates in order to allow watering during the night.
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