news, local-news, Level 1, water restrictions, Jamie Loader, Central Coast Council, Mangrove Creek Dam

Level 1 water restrictions will apply across the Central Coast from Monday. Restrictions will apply to all outdoor water use, including water from urban rainwater tanks which are connected to, or topped-up by, town drinking water. Storage in Mangrove Creek Dam is at 50.09 per cent of capacity, just above the 50 per cent restriction trigger set by Central Coast Council last year. Despite rain forecast for this weekend, the dam storage level is still expected to dip slightly below that trigger point in coming days. Restrictions will not be lifted until Mangrove Creek Dam's storage rises above 52 per cent of capacity. Council's water and sewer director, Jamie Loader, said the restrictions complemented council's ongoing investment in water infrastructure which had put the region in a strong position to face a prolonged drought. "In the past decade, we have made significant investments in the Coast's water infrastructure and this has paid off, with our dams' levels holding relatively steady in comparison to those in neighbouring regions where restrictions were required some months ago," Mr Loader said. Lake Macquarie and the Lower Hunter are on Level 2 water restrictions. Related reading: "Level 1 restrictions will support this water conservation and help us to potentially avoid Level 4 or 5 restrictions and their very stringent measures," Mr Loader said. "Council continues to invest in our water infrastructure with the upgrading of the Mardi Water Treatment Plant and the construction of the Mardi to Warnervale Pipeline, which will begin early this year." Under Level 1 restrictions, some exemptions will be available for customers in limited circumstances. Exemption applications will be available at council's customer service centres and online. Mayor Lisa Matthews said Central Coast residents had already embraced water conservation and Council's 'Live to 150L' message which encouraged residents to use a maximum of 150 litres per person per day. "Thanks to everyone's ongoing conservation efforts, our dam levels have only fallen gradually," Cr Matthews said. "This combined with good infrastructure and the introduction of restrictions, helps to reduce pressure on our water supply. "Together we can make sure every drop counts and continues to protect our precious water supply now and in the future." Under Level 1 restrictions, Central Coast residents can reduce outdoor water use by: Fixed sprinklers and micro sprays are banned under Level 1 restrictions. For further information about restrictions including eligibility for exemptions, and information about saving water both indoors and outdoors, visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/water-restrictions.

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Central Coast Council opts to start Level 1 water restrictions despite forecast of weekend rain