North-East Water cautions customers to conserve water after usage increase

Water usage has reached its highest point in more than a decade as temperatures have soared over the past month.

Current water storage is well-placed, but North East Water’s managing director Craig Heiner said while levels would suffice for this summer, he held concerns for the next.

“Our water storages and allocations are in a good position mid-way through this summer, but if we have another dry winter and spring, it could be a different story towards the end of the year,” he said.

“There’s a possibility that water restrictions may be needed if there’s low rainfall and high temperatures.

“We’ll be keeping a very close eye on modelling and forecasts over the next nine months before any decision is made on restrictions.” 

North East Water said it was unlikely there would be any water restrictions in the area this summer.

Usage across the region has spiked by roughly 20 per cent in recent weeks in Wodonga, with similar trends existing in other towns across the region. 

Typical daily water usage is roughly 50 million litres, though less water is being used now than 20 years ago.

“Even though average water usage is trending up, it’s still lower than what we were using before the millennium drought,” he said.

“This shows people are conscious of how they use water and we encourage people not to slip into old habits.

“Water conservation has come a long way, but there is no better time to remind people to be mindful of how much they use.”