Two Tasmanian coastal towns will face tougher water restrictions from next Friday as ongoing dry conditions push dam levels to a low level.
Stage 2 restrictions will hit Orford and Triabunna residents from February 27, with TasWater escalating measures due to declining water levels at the Prosser Dam.
The towns have been under Stage 1 restrictions but continued low rainfall has forced TasWater to tighten the rules further.
The new restrictions aim to slash non-essential water use by 50% through stricter outdoor watering rules.
Residents will face allocated watering days for gardens and sports grounds, while lawn watering will be banned entirely.
“This will mean a change to the routines of some residents, but these changes will significantly boost the amount of water available in the system,” TasWater’s Liz Hafner said.
TasWater will monitor conditions closely and said they will lift restrictions once consistent rainfall returns and river flows strengthen.
“For now, limiting use will help us ensure water is available when residents, visitors and businesses turn on their taps,” she said.
Hafner said many Tasmanians wrongly believe the state has unlimited water supplies.
“There is a common misconception that Tasmania has an inexhaustible supply of water,” she said.
“But that supply is vulnerable to the changing climate and our state’s growing population.”
