Four consecutive months of below average rainfall has left the dam at just 61.3 per cent. 

The Bureau of Meteorology has recorded 96.6 millimetres of rain  in Bathurst since February – which is well down on the long-term average of 193.7mm for the four months.

The last time the dam was below 61 per cent was in May, 2007, when it fell to 47.3 per cent.

Despite the declining water level, residents are still a long way off forced water restrictions.

Bathurst Regional Council guidelines state the water level must drop to 40 per cent before these are enforced.

There are a number of ways residents can help conserve water, according to council’s water and waste manger Russell Deans.

“We often think about saving water in the hotter months, but even in cooler weather it is important to be water-wise,” Mr Deans said.

“There are plenty of simple things that can help save water such as checking sprinklers and irrigation equipment to make sure they only water gardens and lawns and avoiding watering in the middle of the day. 

“It’s simple things like having a full load before using the washing machine or dishwasher, or repairing leaking taps that can make a difference to water usage.”

Last August, when the dam was at 100 per cent and water was going over the spillway, councillor Michael Coote told the Western Advocate it was time for council to carry out a review of the dam wall and look at whether it could be raised again.

“In the last drought there was no need for Bathurst to go to restrictions, but with the region growing all the time we still need to have a look at it,” he said at the time.

Mr Deans said yesterday that investigations into various water security improvements, including the possible raising of Chifley Dam, are planned to commence during 2016/2017.