Water restrictions in parts of Tasmania’s east coast and Flinders Island will be lifted ahead of the weekend thanks to recent rainfall.
The restrictions in Whitemark, Orford and Triabunna were introduced in April following an exceptionally dry summer and autumn.
TasWater’s Callan Paske said “unprecedented low rainfalls” were to blame for the measures and thanked the communities for their efforts.
“Even as we entered winter, the rain we needed to fill the dam at Whitemark had its driest February and March on record with a similar story in Orford and Triabunna,” Paske said.
“Customers in those towns could see just how dry it was and stepped up to start conserving water.”
Paske said the changes required by the restrictions and choices to shorten showers or not run dishwashers half full add up quickly.
“The collective effort meant we could stay at Stage 2 even without further rain and also put us in a position to respond quickly now we’ve seen wet weather,” he said.
While the recent rainfall has provided some relief, staff will continue to monitor catchment levels and weather patterns.
“It’s important, regardless of the season, to be mindful of excess water usage as every drop counts,” Paske said.
A recent report into TasWater’s operations by the state’s economic regulator found that the company is losing enough water daily to fill 28 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
