Cassowary Coast Regional Council

Due to extremely low rainfall in recent months, Cassowary Coast residents across the region will have to reduce their water consumption to ensure that people living in elevated areas continue to receive an adequate supply of water.

The Cassowary Coast Regional Council today agreed to immediately introduce Level 1 water restrictions, which will limit the use of sprinklers to alternate days, from 5-7 am and 7-9 pm for residents throughout the region. The use of hand-held hoses will not be affected.

Council Water Manager, Ross Jennings, said the incredibly dry winter spell (with rainfall “as much as 80 percent lower than average”) had triggered higher than normal water consumption in the region, as many property owners kept their sprinklers working overtime to maintain green gardens.

Unfortunately, the unrestrained use of water by such residents was leaving others literally high and dry, according to Mr Jennings.

“Our water infrastructure cannot meet the current high demand for water,” he said. “At present, during peak times for water usage in the morning and evenings, some residents are going without any water at all.

“The people most seriously affected are those living on properties in elevated areas of El Arish, Tully and Mission Beach.”

Mr Jennings said the adoption of Level 1 water restrictions would allow the council to maintain a more balanced level of water pressure distribution throughout the region and prevent the pressure fluctuations that currently occur.

“This will allow us to maintain a continuous supply of water to all consumers,” he said.

Mr Jennings said the development and adoption of water conservation measures were an important component in the council’s Drought Management Plan.

“The current average daily water consumption per person is 330 litres,” he said. “We would like to see that reduced to 270 litres per day.

He said such a reduction in water consumption levels would yield a number of benefits in the long term.

“It will reduce our operational costs, extend the supply of our existing water resources, and allow us to defer expenditure on the development of new water supply resources,” Mr Jennings said.