Water bans to ease

Barwon Water announced yesterday it would ease stage four restrictions to reward consumers for “exceptional” conservation.
Restricted watering of gardens will be allowed under the changes and some water will be allocated to community sports grounds over summer. Barwon Water will ease the bans on October 27.
Barwon Water chairman Stephen Vaughan said the decision rewared savings of more than 9000 megalitres, 2000 more than the authority had anticipated.
“The board believes it is appropriate to return these savings to consumers who have made sacrifices during the prolonged drought,” Mr Vaughan said.
Geelong’s storages were at 31.1 per cent capacity yesterday, up from 14.1 per cent in May.
Households will be able to use hand held hoses fitted with trigger nozzles to water gardens and trees between 7 and 8pm twice a week.
The exemption will operate on odd and even house numbers.
Owners will be able to top up swimming pools during the two hours but must use pool covers to reduce evaporation.
The decision to also allocate 500Ml to public recreation facilities will also save cricket associations from pulling up stumps early like last season.
Barwon Water envisaged the easing of restrictions would allow clubs to maintain one in four sporting surfaces, covering bowls and golf greens and cricket turf wickets.
Other stage four restrictions, introduced in December, 2006, will remain in place.
Mr Vaughan said the water sharing exercise would not jeopardise Geelong’s supplies.
“This decision is based on prudent management of our water resources,” he said.
“The board has considered supply and demand modelling, projections on storage levels and weather patterns and community feedback.”
Mr Vaughan said Barwon Water was taking steps to ensure security of supply through significant capital investment projects.
However, he warned consumers to remain conservative in their use of water and to abide by restrictions.