Reservoir Works - Level 4 Water Restrictions

Critical Water Infrastructure Works: Water for Growth Project

Charters Towers Town Water supply ONLY

 

NOTICE SUMMARY:The Water for Growth Project is entering a crucial construction phase for Charters Towers water supply. For 30 days, only ONE reservoir will remain operational while the second reservoir is safely isolated for major tie-in works.

To protect the Charters Towers drinking water supply during this period, Level 4 Water Restrictions will apply for 30 days from Tuesday. 6 October.

Compliance is mandatory to help maintain water security and avoid the need for emergency Level 5 restrictions.

SECURING OUR FUTURE: The Water for Growth Project

Charters Towers Regional Council is progressing key milestones for this landmark Water for Growth project, which will upgrade our local pipeline infrastructure, strengthen the resilience of the water network and support the region’s long-term growth.

To complete this connection of the new infrastructure, major tie-in works will need to be carried out on the primary water storage network (Reservoir).

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE WATER NETWORK: One Reservoir in Operation

To allow the safe execution of critical pipeline and infrastructure tie-ins, one primary reservoir (The World) will be taken offline for a period of up to 30 days resulting in storage capacity of one reservoir during this time Mandatory Level 4 Water Restrictions 

To safely manage the significantly reduced storage capacity and protect drinking water supply, Level 4 Water Restrictions will be in place across the Water Network for the full 30-day period.

Under Level 4, outdoor watering is not permitted:

	Irrigation Prohibited:	All automatic watering systems, sprinklers, and fixed micro-spray or drip systems must be shut off.
	No Hand-Held Watering:	Hand-held watering of lawns, ornamental gardens, and garden beds via hoses, watering cans, or buckets is strictly prohibited.
	Hard Surfaces:	Hosing driveways, footpaths, brickwork, or paved outdoor living spaces is completely banned.
	Vehicle Washing:	Washing vehicles or mobile equipment at home is prohibited (except via commercial car washes that recycle water).
	Plants:	Residents may use buckets of indoor greywater, excluding kitchen greywater, to water potted plants. Greywater must be collected and used safely. As defined in the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018, Division 5 - 79, the owner must ensure that: Greywater does not cause an odour that unreasonably interferes, or is likely to unreasonably interfere with the use or enjoyment of any other premises; and Any ponding or run-off of the greywater does not cause a danger or health risk to anyone. Any pooling or run-off must be fully contained on the premises. If the property has a designated, council-approved "land application area" for greywater, it must be contained entirely within that area.
	Pets and Livestock:	Filling pet bowls, water troughs and livestock water supplies remains permitted to ensure animals have access to water.

  

Council will continue to closely monitor the Charters Towers reservoir, with the priority to keep local water use within the required operating limits.

If water levels fall to critical levels or daily use exceeds the set operating limit, Council will need to introduce Level 5 (Critical) Water Restrictions. This includes strict limits on indoor use, such as 3-minute showers.

HOW YOU CAN HELP CONSERVE WATER

We ask all residents and businesses within the Charters Towers town water supply to help conserve water during the construction period. Every small action can make a difference and help protect our water supply.

Simple ways to reduce indoor water use:

• Keep showers short and use a timer to keep track.
• Only run washing machines and dishwashers when they have full loads.
• Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, shaving or washing your hands.
• Check taps, toilets and other fixtures for leaks or dripping. 

Property owners are strongly encouraged to log into the official MiWater Portal to monitor their household’s daily consumption trends and set up automatic leak alerts

Thank you for your cooperation and patience as Council completes this important infrastructure upgrade. Your efforts during this period will help us manage the water network and maintain a secure water supply.

For regular updates on water restrictions and project milestones, follow Council’s Facebook page.

Once these works are complete and the reservoir returned to normal operations, it is anticipated that water restrictions will be lifted and Level 0 restrictions will be reinstated. This will be dependent on water availability and environmental conditions at the time.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

ABOUT THE WATER RESTRICTIONS

This Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) guide explains the water use requirements that will apply during the construction period for the Water for Growth Project.

During this period, only one reservoir will be operational while major tie-in works are completed. Level 4 Water Restrictions, including a strict NO outdoor watering requirement, will apply across the entire Charters Towers water supply network.

These restrictions are in place to protect the community’s drinking water supply and help manage demand while the network is operating with reduced storage capacity.

1. Household & Garden Management

2. Animal Care & Pet Welfare

3. Commercial Business Operators

4. Monitoring

STAY INFORMED

Track your household consumption or register for automatic leak detection text notifications online through the official MiWater Portal.

For emergency network faults or restriction exemptions, contact the Council Customer Service Team on (07) 4761 5300.