Bathurst Regional Council has not yet issued its first fine for breaching the Level 4-5 restrictions but it can only be a matter of time.

This week's dam level reading at Ben Chifley Dam confirmed the region's main water storage is now at the lowest level we've seen since the dam wall was raised and, with no rain on the horizon, it is only going to keep falling.

And adding to the obvious concern is that we are seeing this record low in November, before summer has even started.

An 80 per cent cut to the water allocation for local irrigators announced a fortnight ago will certainly have some impact but it will still require all of Bathurst's 40,000-plus residents to do the right thing to ensure we get through the hottest months as best we can.

Which brings us to the question that many of us are already asking: Are we willing to become a city of dobbers?

Responses on social media already suggest there are plenty of people in Bathurst not complying with the extreme water restrictions - many more than the 40 to have received reminders so far.

But as we move deeper into this restrictions period, council will be relying heavily on tip-offs from the public if is to catch those responsible for the worst breaches.

That will usually be a neighbour or someone living in the same street, and it may not be an easy call to make.

Australians are not generally brought up to "dob" - except, of course, in the case of assisting a criminal investigation.

That is not what we have here, however, we must be approaching the point where Bathurst water's situation is so dire that even the most easy-going neighbour would no longer be willing to turn a blind eye when they see someone breaking the rules.

That could create some neighbourhood tensions and the perhaps some frosty greetings at the annual Christmas - but that's not to say the dobbers are in the wrong.

If one neighbour is playing by the rules it's not hard to imagine them quickly becoming frustrated that another isn't.

If a quick call to council resolves that frustration, then so be it.

And if you really don't want to be dobbed in to council, then the best bet is to comply with the restrictions.