RESIDENTS appear to have a better understanding of the importance of water restrictions, with the number of complaints about water use continuing to decline.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bathurst Regional Council's director of Engineering Services, Darren Sturgiss, has been providing monthly water security updates to ordinary meetings, including the newest information on compliance.
In his report presented to the August meeting, he noted that there had been just two new complaints raised with council during July, bringing the overall number to 357.
The number of new complaints has been declining for months.
There were five for June, 13 in May, 20 in April, and 35 in March.
In his latest report, Mr Sturgiss said that one new case required a courtesy letter to be sent, which "resulted in changes and compliance".
Council didn't need to send any caution letters or penalty infringement notices.
To the end of July, council has sent a total of 214 courtesy letters, 15 caution letters, and has had to issue four fines.
Mr Sturgiss also noted that council has received complaints that appeared to be vexatious, as no is evidence of non-compliance could be found when the reported properties were inspected.
Further proving residents are taking notice of the water restrictions, consumption has continued to remain well below expectations.
Demand on the town water supply averaged 9.3 megalitres per day, the same figure as the average for June and 0.2ML per day lower than the average for May.
"This is an excellent result from the Bathurst community," Mr Sturgiss said.
Residential consumption for July averaged 129 litres per person per day, which is well below the 2014 Drought Management Plan expectations of 183 L/p/d for level four water restrictions.
It is also well below level five requirement of 159 litres and is equal to what is expected at level six.
June had the save average consumption, while May was higher at 133 L/p/d.
While figures may be similar for the month of August, with that information to become available next month, it is likely that September's consumption will be higher.
Council has just scaled back water restrictions to level three, with the change coming into effect on August 28.
Residents are now allowed to water lawns and gardens for 60 minutes every second day under the odds and evens system, before 10am or after 4pm.
They can also top up swimming pools for 15 minutes daily, wash their cars at home and use trigger nozzles hoses and irrigation systems again.
