A modified version of Stage 3 water restrictions will apply to all areas serviced by Western Water, except Lancefield, from 1am on Sunday, April 1.
The new level of restrictions, known as 3a, will apply in Romsey, Woodend, Macedon, Mt Macedon, Riddells Creek, Gisborne, Sunbury, Diggers Rest, Bulla, Melton, Toolern Vale, Bacchus Marsh and Myrniong.
Under Stage 3a, garden watering can continue two days a week – but only for two hours in the mornings.
Currently, under Stage 3, watering can be done two days a week in the morning and in the evening.
As Lancefield’s supplies, both ground and surface water, are capable of meeting demand, Stage 3 restrictions will remain in place for the township.
Western Water’s Chief Executive Officer John Wilkinson said the tougher restrictions had been introduced to manage depleted storage levels resulting from the worst drought on record in the Western Water region.
The bans are consistent with restrictions in the Melbourne metropolitan area. More than 80 per cent of Western Water’s supply is currently from the Melbourne system.
“With Melbourne’s storage levels still more than 3 per cent above the Stage 4 trigger level, tougher restrictions will be introduced but not full Stage 4 restrictions,” Mr Wilkinson said.
Melbourne water storages are currently at 32.6 per cent. The trigger level for Stage 4 is 29.3 per cent.
Mr Wilkinson said the Stage 3a restrictions were designed to provide opportunities for customers to implement further water conservation measures while maintaining some outdoor use.
“Stage 4 restrictions states there will be no domestic use of water outside the household. Stage 3a will provide customers with minimal opportunity for outdoor use of water for gardens,” Mr Wilkinson said.
Under the new restrictions, people can only water between 6 am and 8 am twice a week. People aged 70 and over are able to water between 8 am and 10 am instead of the earlier time.
Stage 3a restrictions will be in place from 1am on 1 April to 1 August 2007, before which time consideration will be given to going to full Stage 4 restrictions based on the amount of rainfall.
