LEVEL three water restrictions remain in force for the Manning, Forster Tuncurry and Bulahdelah areas, however MidCoast Water will be closely watching weather conditions and river flows over the next few days as they continue to assess the situation.
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Good rainfall has been received across the Manning catchment over the past three days, with the Manning River and its tributaries registering encouraging rises. The valley had its wettest day this year on Monday with 14mm falling in the 24 hours before 9am.
"We will continue to watch the river levels for a few days before making a decision on the direction of restrictions," general manager Robert Loadsman said this morning.
"Our priority is refilling our storage at Bootawa Dam, so restrictions will remain in place until we are confident the river will rise enough to allow this to happen."
Cooler temperatures and lights rains across the district over the weekend have also proven the community can get to MidCoast Water's target water consumption of 22 million litres a day.
Since the rain started on Friday, usage has dropped from the 26 million litres a day recorded last Thursday to 22.8 million litres on Friday, 18.9 on Saturday and 17.7 on Sunday - proving the target is possible.
"Consumption figures over the past three days have shown us two things," general manager Robert Loadsman said "firstly that the target is achievable and secondly that customers must still be using water outdoors if we can achieve this type of reduction when it rains."
Under level three restrictions sprinklers and fixed hoses are banned at all times, and hand-held hoses can be used for up to one hour every second day, outside of the hours of 10am and 4pm. Microspray systems can be used for up to 15 minutes every second day, outside the hours of 10am and 4pm.
Watering cans and buckets can be used at any time.
The restrictions operate on an 'odds and evens' system matching house numbers. These restrictions apply to residents supplied by the Manning scheme - those in the area between Crowdy Head in the north and Tarbuck Bay in the south. Level three restrictions are also in force for the Bulahdelah water supply.
Details of the restrictions are available from MidCoast Water offices, via the customer service line on 1300 133 455 or at www.midcoastwater.com.au
MidCoast Water will be tracking consumption on its website - www.midcoastwater.com.au/restrictions - daily.