The expansion of the Nabiac borefield well ahead of schedule will help safeguard the Manning-Great Lakes water supply during this the worst drought on record, according to MidCoast Council.
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Council has completed the installation of four additional production bores on the Nabiac borefield, boosting the aquifer system's capacity from 6 to 8 megalitres per day, taking some of the pressure off Bootawa Dam, the area's main source of water.
Expansion of the borefield will continue over the next few months, ahead of the original schedule of 2025. A further eight bores will be installed by the end of February, increasing production at Nabiac to at least 12 megalitres per day with further expansion being investigated through use of a portable desalination plant.
The NSW Government has supported council's drought response plans with $1 million in funding for critical infrastructure.
Meanwhile, council has asked residents to ensure they comply with Severe (level 4) water restrictions, which places a ban on outdoor water use.
"We're working on a number of fronts to ensure we will continue to supply water to our community until normal rainfall patterns return," council's director of infrastructure and engineering services, Rob Scott said.
"There is no doubt that this is the worst drought on record in our region. Water is extremely scarce right now. Our rural community is really struggling."
"If we can lower our daily usage to below 17 megalitres a day, the Manning-Great Lakes supply will last into next year without any further rainfall.
Visit www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/waterrestrictions for full information and to see frequently asked questions. Visit www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/watertracker to see the daily water usage figures for each supply in the MidCoast region.
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