Water bans to rise

Barwon Water announced tighter restrictions yesterday after the region’s storage levels fell below 30 per cent capacity.
“Stage four daylight saving” restrictions from November 1 would halve the allocated time for watering household gardens.
Barwon Water said the restrictions allowed watering between 7pm and 8pm twice a week based on odd and even house numbers.
Winter restrictions allowed watering from 5pm to 7pm twice a week.
Barwon Water said some exemptions would apply, including allocations to sport grounds.
Consumers applying for exemptions on the grounds of “age, disability or rehabilitation” would be considered on case-by-case basis.
Barwon Water chairman Roger Lowrey said some exemptions were possible without jeopardising supplies.
“With storage levels slightly below this time last year, we have taken a cautious yet prudent management approach,” he said.
“In doing so, the board has considered supply and demand modelling, projections on storage levels and weather patterns and community feedback”
Barwon Water modelling yesterday predicted storages at a minimum 15.9 per cent capacity by May.
The storages fell to 29.7 per cent this week after falling by 586 million litres over the previous seven days.
West Barwon Reservoir, Geelong’s main water strorage, was down to 19.2 per cent capacity.
Mr Lowrey said Barwon Water would keep a close eye on the storages and consumption “to ensure restrictions match prevailing circumstances”.
“Regardless, consumers are urged to continue to save water,” he said.
“Conservation is the most important thing we can do to protect supplies during drought.”