Hunter Water has warned Lower Hunter residents to prepare for possible water restrictions this winter, after hot, dry April conditions pushed water usage to 20-year highs and storage levels to their lowest point in five years.
Residential water use exceeded 3.7 billion litres in April, averaging about 200 litres per person per day, according to data released on Wednesday. Overall supplies fell to 62 per cent, triggering warnings that restrictions could be imposed in June if usage does not decline.
Water restrictions are triggered when overall supplies fall below 60 per cent. Grahamstown Dam, which supplies more than half the Lower Hunter's water, had fallen to 58 per cent capacity after almost uninterrupted declines since October. Chichester Dam dropped by more than eight per cent over the past month.
Hunter Water began drawing from Tomago Sandbeds late last month to supplement storage levels. The sandbeds can provide up to 20 per cent of the region's drinking water during shortfalls.
Hunter Water strategy and engagement manager Emma Berry said recent rainfall had been isolated and mainly along the coastal fringe, with little lasting impact on dam levels. “Our catchments remain very dry, which means not all rainfall turns into runoff that refills our storages,” she said.
Households have been urged to conserve water by taking shorter showers, watering gardens only before 10am and after 4pm, using buckets instead of hoses to wash vehicles, and running washing machines and dishwashers only when full.
