Residents in towns and villages north of Grafton are being asked to reduce their water usage while essential maintenance takes place on the trunk water main. Clarence Valley Council is implementing temporary Level 4 water restrictions in some areas on Wednesday 19 August and Thursday 20 August.
Greg Mashiah, Manager Water Cycle said, “We have maintenance works scheduled on the trunk water main supplying water to communities north of Grafton including Angourie, Ashby, Brooms Head, Brushgrove, Chatsworth, Clarenza, Ilarwill, Gulmarrad, Harwood, Iluka, James Creek, Lawrence, Maclean, Palmers Island, Southgate, Tyndale, Tucabia, Ulmarra, Wooloweyah, Woombah, Yamba and surrounding rural areas
“We anticipate this work will be completed in a day, however, we are activating local Level 4 water restrictions in these communities in order to significantly reduce water consumption while the works are taking place.
Level 4 water restrictions mean all outside residential use of potable water is prohibited, only grey water and recycled water may be used.
“If residents need to wash their car, water their garden or top up their swimming pool, they should do so before or wait until after the planned works.
“The Level 4 restrictions are a precautionary measure. The local service reservoirs only hold a limited supply of water – once the maintenance on the water main starts, we will be unable to pump water into these storage facilities.
“On completion of the maintenance current Clarence Valley water restrictions, which are at level 1, will apply.
With the good rains and rivers flows some residents may be asking why Level 1 water restrictions remain in place.
The level of Shannon Creek Dam is currently above 80%, however the release of inflow as required by the NSW Government licence has not yet occurred.
“We have asked the NSW Government for a one-off exemption to the licensing agreement; however, we are waiting for clarification of their response.
“If the NSW Government agrees to the licence exemption, all water restrictions can be lifted immediately,” added Mr Mashiah.
Under the NSW government licence, 6.93% of the dam volume, which represents around three month’s water supply for the Coffs Harbour and Clarence Valley Council areas, is required to be released. If this happens the dam would again drop below the 80% trigger for Level 1 water restrictions.
If the licence exemption is not granted by the NSW Government, it is estimated Level 1 restrictions will be lifted at the end of August, once the dam has been sufficiently replenished from the Nymboida River.