Snap water restrictions will turn the taps off
Douglas Water Security
Douglas Shire residents will be instructed to use just 100 litres of water per person per day, limit clothes washing and encouraged to only flush solids down the toilet under new “flash” Emergency Water Restrictions.
In a bid to ensure water security in emergency situations as experienced by many in the aftermath of Cyclone Jasper, the CEO has been given authority to implement the snap restrictions to protect water supplies.
Under the restrictions, banned will be the topping up of private pools, cleaning windows, watering plants by council and private gardens, turning on water features, even the use of water pistols and water toys by children.
In the report to council on Tuesday, October 29, it was recommended the additional “Emergency Water Restrictions” be implemented only when there is an imminent risk of the community running out of potable water.
“The intent is that these are “flash” restrictions, implemented rapidly to allow the WTPs to recover supply security and released as soon as possible when that has occurred as “the last line of defence to protect against loss of supply of potable water’’.
The move is aimed to prevent the need to activate the Local Disaster Management Plan and issue long-lasting boil water alerts.
“What the public need to understand is that these water restrictions could mean the difference between having no water at all or having water to service their basic needs,’’ Deputy Mayor Roy Zammataro said.
“If these restrictions are adhered to, we should be able to keep water back for the basic needs.
Cr Abigail Noli reiterated that call.
“This is really important that the community understands that it happened to us, we weren’t prepared for it and it was out of our hands and while it may never be the first one or the last one, we have got to be prepared,’’ she said.
Cr Damien Meadows said Jasper was a classic example of the impact on water security we can experience across our community.
“The team has put together a really stringent plan here to make sure that while being a bit restricted, we can supply the basics. It’s a great plan,’’ he added.
The Emergency Restrictions, which council voted in unanimous support for, would indicate that water should only be used for internal domestic uses of drinking, cooking, toilet flushing, showers, and personal hygiene.
“All unnecessary use of water should be avoided including banning all outdoor water use, even recommending that washing clothes should be delayed if possible, and encourage flushing of solid waste only,’’ the report said.
If successful, the per person water usage should be below 100L per person per day, and ideally below 50L per person.
“As this is a flash restriction, it may be that this lasts one to two days only,’’ the report said.
“It is also important to release Emergency Restrictions as soon as possible. All reservoirs should be back near maximum capacity before this occurs, and the restrictions relaxed to a level that still indicates the need to conserve water.’’
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