Residents may face tighter rules on watering their gardens in an effort to avoid going to level five water restrictions.
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Bathurst Regional Council has revealed it is considering making changes to water restrictions, the statement coming after the Chifley Dam level fell further despite significant rain in the region.
Mayor Bobby Bourke said council was hoping the rain late last week would help the dam, but this did not occur.
"Council had hoped the predicated heavy rain would have resulted in inflows into Chifley Dam. However, the lighter than predicated falls over the weekend did not result in any inflow, although the rain was welcomed across the region benefitting residents lawns and gardens," Cr Bourke said.
"Council is continuing to monitor weekly water usage and the levels in Chifley Dam and it is expected that we will need to implement changes to garden watering practises."
A timeline for when this might occur is yet to be determined.
"Council will ensure the community is given notice of any change to water restrictions before they are introduced," Cr Bourke said.
Currently, residents can water gardens on Wednesdays and Sundays only between 6pm and 9pm, for a maximum of 30 minutes.
They can use either one hand held hose with a trigger nozzle, one soaker hose, a microspray system or one other under-mulch irrigation system.
Sprinklers of any kind aren't permitted to be used.
On council's website it says that, if Chifley Dam reaches 29 per cent capacity or less, watering will only be permitted on Wednesdays and Sundays between 6pm and 9pm, for a maximum of 30 minutes, using a watering can or bucket.
As of Tuesday, Chifley Dam was at 31.2 per cent, falling 0.6 per cent from the previous week.
According to Weatherzone, over the last seven days Bathurst has received 31 millimetres of rain.
This figure was recorded at the Bathurst agricultural station.
While there is no rain forecast for the remainder of the week, next week could bring more rain to the region.
As of Wednesday afternoon, there was a 40 per cent chance of rain on Sunday, producing up to five millimetres.
On Monday there was a 90 per cent chance of rain, potentially producing five to 10mm, and then a 70 per cent chance of rain the next day, again with the potential of five to 10mm.