Media release – TasWater, 24 April 2024
Whitemark placed on stage 1 water restrictions
Whitemark on Flinders Island will be placed on stage 1 water restrictions from Monday, 29 April 2024 to help manage water supply to the town.
Head of Communications and Engagement Callan Paske said stage 1 restrictions required only small changes to how people used water, but even small changes could have a significant impact on the amount of water available in the system.
“This year has seen the driest February and March on record for Whitemark, so implementing these restrictions will help us ensure water is available when residents, businesses and visitors turn on their taps,” Mr Paske said.
Stage 1 restrictions aim to reduce non-essential water use by 20 per cent by encouraging more conscious use of water at home and at work.
“These restrictions are focused on using less water outside the home on things like watering lawns, hosing down paving or concrete, and washing cars.”
In late 2022, TasWater completed a project to more than double the capacity of Henderson Dam providing additional water security to the residents of Whitemark.
“The upgrade to Henderson Dam allowed Whitemark residents access to water through the summer period.
“The old dam would have been bone dry by now, and water restrictions would have been needed much earlier,” Mr Paske said.
Notices will be placed in The Examiner newspaper and on TasWater’s website to inform Whitemark residents of the restrictions.
Targeted social media posts will also be used to inform the community.
TasWater will continue to monitor dam levels and keep customers up to date should restrictions be required.
Water saving tips can be found here: https://www.taswater.com.au/
Details on water restrictions can be found here: https://www.taswater.com.au/
What do stage 1 water restrictions mean?
Stage 1 restrictions are intended to enforce sensible water use and prevent inefficient water practices by reducing non-essential use of water by about 20 per cent.
Residential, public and commercial gardens and lawns
Garden and lawn watering is allowed on any day during the following times:
- Manual watering systems can only be used between the hours of 6am and 8am, and between the hours of 8pm and 10pm.
· Automatic watering systems can only be used between the hours of midnight and 4am.
· Handheld hoses with a trigger nozzle, buckets or watering cans may be used at any time.
Sporting grounds
Watering of sports grounds is allowed on any day during the following times:
- Manual watering systems can only be used between the hours of 6am and 8am and between the hours of 8pm and 10pm.
· Automatic watering systems can only be used between the hours of midnight and 4am.
· Handheld hoses with a trigger nozzle, buckets or watering cans may be used at any time.
Paving, concrete and other hard surfaces
· Spot cleaning for safety, health, animal welfare or emergency reasons with a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or with high pressure cleaning equipment is permitted.
· For construction, using water for dust or pollutant suppression, or earth compaction by means of a hose fitted with a flow cut-off device or a vehicle fitted with sprinklers is permitted.
· Hosing for general cleaning of hard surfaces such as paths, driveways and paved areas is not permitted at any time.
Washing vehicles
- A bucket, high pressure cleaning device or commercial car wash can be used at any time for vehicle washing.
· A handheld hose fitted with a trigger nozzle can only be used for pre-rinsing and rinsing at home.
Residential or commercial pools and spas
- Topping up of pools and spas only using a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, a bucket, watering can or auto-device.
· Emptying and refilling existing pools and spas, and filling new pools and spas:
-
- Up to 2,000 litres: may only be refilled, or filled for the first time, using a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, a bucket or automatic water top-up device.
- More than 2,000 litres: may only be refilled, or filled for the first time when the property owner has an approved Exemption – swimming pool or spa filling from TasWater.
