TasWater is warning two towns are on the verge of water restrictions and 19 catchments have been escalated to watch status as dry conditions continue across the state.
TasWater says Oatlands and Whitemark are close to triggering stage one restrictions, while greater Launceston is also being closely monitored.
Three systems are already restricted – Lady Barron and Scamander are on stage one, while Orford and Triabunna are on stage two and could be elevated to stage three within weeks, according to TasWater.
TasWater’s Liz Hafner said the situation was being driven by historically low rainfall and a grim forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology.
“Many areas across the state have seen their lowest rainfall on record for the year to date,” she said.
Hafner said the bureau was predicting a 75% chance of significantly less rain than average over the medium to long term.
She said greater Launceston was likely to face restrictions if rain did not arrive in the coming weeks.
“The ongoing lack of rainfall has seen an increased likelihood that restrictions will be needed unless usage drops or there is significant rain in several catchments,” she said.
She said the 19 catchments moved to watch status stretched across the state, from Strahan in the west to St Helens and Bicheno on the east coast and from Deloraine in the north to Dover in the south.
TasWater said low flows had been recorded in several major river systems including the South Esk, St Patricks, Liffey, Aspley, Swan and Mersey.
Hafner urged Tasmanians to do their part to conserve supplies.
“Small changes to water usage, like taking shorter showers and using the half-flush on the toilet, add up when done by tens of thousands of people to have a huge impact on water supplies across the state,” she said.
