Southeast Queenslanders have been given carte blanche to go wet and wild, with an official end to all water restrictions from today.
But the government is confident we'll keep to good habits formed during the height of the drought when the Wivenhoe Dam dropped below 20 per cent capacity.
“As our dams are currently more than 90 per cent full, there is no need for water restrictions,” acting Minister for Water Supply Andrew Cripps said.
“Last month we used on average 180 litres per person per day, which was well below the target of 200 litres per person per day.
A Seqwater spokeswoman said the last remaining low-level water restrictions – Permanent Water Conservation Measures – no longer applied.
“Residents and businesses in southeast Queensland have demonstrated that they understand that water is a precious resource and they need to value their water. This will not change with the ending of these restrictions,” the spokeswoman said.
Water Efficiency Management Plans – known as WEMPs – have also been abolished as the Queensland Water Commission ceases operation.
The body was established in 2006 to provide the government with policy advice on water supply and security.
It was responsible for the implementation of WEMPs and PWCMs, as well as encouraging subsidies for water tanks and mailing out waterproof timers to encourage people to take four-minute showers.
Responsibility for all bulk water supply and security has now been transferred to Seqwater, which has merged with LinkWater and the SEQ Water Grid Manager in a move the Newman government said was in line with its election commitment to ease cost-of-living pressures.
“The previous complex and costly bulk water supply arrangements have been simplified to avoid duplication, cut operating and administration costs and reduce board and executive expenses,” Mr Cripps said.
The Seqwater spokesperson said while water shouldn't be wasted, formal restrictions were no longer needed to get households to observe water wise behaviour such as:
- use rainwater where possible outdoors
- avoid watering in the heat of the day between 10am and 4pm
- top up swimming pools with rainwater and use a pool cover
- when cleaning outside, use a high pressure cleaning device or hose with a twist or trigger nozzle.
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