Stage 3 Water Restrictions for Lorne, Colac and Apollo Bay

Media release, April 21 2016, REF: 031/16

Stage 3 water restrictions will be introduced in Colac, Lorne and Apollo Bay from 1am on Sunday, May 1, as unprecedented dry conditions continue.

Stage 2 restrictions were implemented in Colac and Lorne last month and have been successful in reducing demand. However, storage levels have continued to fall since then with only minimal rainfall and inflows recorded.

Lorne's supplies currently sit at 33.7 per cent capacity while Colac and Apollo Bay's storages are at 26 per cent.

Barwon Water Managing Director Joe Adamski said the weather conditions being experienced across the region were extreme.

"It is dry beyond what we have ever experienced before," Mr Adamski said.

"Storages in all three areas were in a healthy position leading in to summer, but record dry conditions have seen supplies fall into the restriction range," he said.

"We need to manage supplies carefully."

In addition to tougher restrictions in Lorne, Barwon Water also will begin carting water to the town from the Geelong supply system.

"Water carting will maintain storage levels in conjunction with the water restrictions," he said.

"Residents may notice a change to the taste of their water as supplies from Lorne are blended with water from Geelong."

Colac residents also may notice changes in taste as Barwon Water balances existing supplies.

The increase from Stage 2 to Stage 3 in Lorne and Colac further restricts garden watering, with hand watering only permitted between 6am and 8am on alternate days.

Sprinklers are now banned, with only dripper watering systems allowed to be used between 6am and 8am on alternate days.

Home car washing is not permitted, with only windows, mirrors, lights and number plates to be washed using a bucket filled directly from a tap.

Mr Adamski said although the situation was serious, one significant rainfall event could see storages begin to recover.

Apollo Bay, Marengo and Skenes Creek will go straight to Stage 3 restrictions after a sharp decline in storages over recent weeks.

Apollo Bay was last on restrictions in 2014. The town had required restrictions each summer for many years due to the limited capacity of the Marengo basin and the influx of thousands of holidaymakers.

It was expected that completion of the town's second, larger storage basin in 2014 would limit the need for water restrictions. However, the record dry conditions have meant poor inflows to the basins and restrictions are now necessary to manage supplies.

Barwon Water will continue to monitor storages, forecasts and demand trends on a daily basis.

Further details about the restrictions can be found on Barwon Water's website www.barwonwater.vic.gov.au or by telephoning 1300 656 007.

Further Information
Cassie Milner Media and Communications
(03) 5226 2352 or 0401 857 580

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