“Unprecedented” hot, dry weather had forced Barwon Water to increase restrictions again, chairman Stephen Vaughan announced yesterday.
Restrictions will hit stage three on November 1 as the region’s storages plummet amid forecasts of dry conditions for the rest of the year.
Storages are down to 28.8 per cent capacity, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting a 65 to 70 per cent chance of below average rain for the rest of the year.
Above-average temperatures, including local records for October, have worsened the water crisis.
Mr Vaughan said the “unprecedented hot conditions and almost non-existent” rain demanded tighter restrictions.
“It is vital we cut back on water use,” he said.
Barwon Water expected stage three to cut water use 19 per cent over 12 months.
The increase followed local water users consuming an above average 131 million litres last Friday despite stage two rules.
Gardens will be a target of stage three, with the restrictions leaving two days a week for watering under tighter rules.
Even street numbers can water garden beds on Saturdays and Tuesdays, odds on Sundays and Wednesdays.
Stage three only permits watering at restricted times with dripper systems, trigger nozzle-fitted hoses, buckets and watering cans.
Mr Vaughan said the new reductions in watering times would drive savings under stage three.
Other regulations allow car owners to use buckets for washing only windows, lights and mirrors at home. Commercial car washes are restricted to a maximum 70 litres a wash.
Washing other windows is banned except in emergencies.
Bans continue on watering lawns, while owners are not allowed to fill pools.
Barwon Water warned that breaching the regulations risked a $2000 fine for a first offence.
The region’s West Barwon Reservoir has recorded 523 millimetres of rain so far this year compared to an annual average of 1162mm.
September rain was 40 per cent below average and October has registered 12.4mm so far compared to the monthly average of 113.5mm.
Geelong’s water storages were 52.8 per cent full this time last year.
Water bans rise
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