Council acknowledges impact of temporary water restrictions
Published on 30 September 2026
Due to Level 4 water restrictions commencing from Tuesday, 6 October for a period of up to 30 days, Charters Towers Regional Council is asking the Charters Towers community to work together to reduce water consumption to enable critical water infrastructure works to be completed.
The upcoming works form part of Council's Water for Growth project and involve connecting new pipeline infrastructure into the existing Towers Hill Reservoir and Charters Towers water supply network.
Council acknowledges the short notice recently provided to the community and sincerely apologises for the inconvenience the water restrictions will cause.
Chief Executive Officer Michelle Clarke said Council understands the community’s concern, however these works need to be completed now to ensure the long-term reliable supply of water to Charters Towers.
"While it is hoped that the reservoir will be returned to service sooner than the advised 30 day period, it is important that we account for any unexpected issues that may arise during the works," Mrs Clarke continued.
As part of the essential upgrade works, one of Council’s water reservoirs must be temporarily isolated and taken out of service to safely connect the new infrastructure, reducing the available water storage capacity for up to 30 days.
Level 4 Water Restrictions are therefore required to help maintain sufficient water supply for the community and essential services during the construction period.
Once the new connection is completed, the reservoir can be recommissioned, tested and returned to service.
"Council understands that conditions are currently dry and timeframes were insufficient, however the works must be completed to meet grant funding deadlines and contractor availability.
“We are encouraging the community to cooperate during this period to conserve water and avoid the need for emergency Level 5 restrictions,” Mrs Clarke added.
Council and contractors will work closely to monitor water demand, reservoir levels and network performance throughout the scheduled works and regular updates on the progress of works will be provided to the community.
The Water for Growth project is jointly funded by Charters Towers Regional Council and the Queensland Government and represents a significant investment in the long-term reliability and resilience of the Charters Towers water supply network.
More information on the project, including water restriction information and frequently asked questions, can be found on Council’s website at www.charterstowers.qld.gov.au/reservoir-works.
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