Easing of Stage 2 Water Restrictions to Stage 1
Water Conservation Tips in the Home
Stage 4 Water Restrictions Fact Sheet (December 2006)   -   Links

Our tourism operators are providing great facilities for guests and find it disappointing not to be able to present their properties with beautiful gardens and lawns. Many face the onerous task some time in the next 12 months of having to re-establish their lawns and gardens - at great cost in many cases.

As well, the demand on water consumption from laundry etc is a great factor and if everyone could economise on the size of the loads and prolong the use of some articles such as towels, then it can make a huge difference.

If we all make the effort to conserve water when we are at home or on holiday, everyone benefits.

Even during a water shortage, our visitor facility operators will greet you with a welcoming smile and the opportunity for a lovely stay in a beautiful place.

Easing of Stage 2 Water Restrictions to Stage 1

Goulburn Valley Water has eased water restrictions for Mansfield, Bonnie Doon, Merrijig, Sawmill Settlement and Woods Point from Stage 2 to Stage 1
effective from Monday 1st October, 2007.

Key features of Stage 1 Water Restrictions for Residential and Commercial
Gardens and Lawns, Paving, Concrete and other Hard Surfaces, and Vehicles

* Manual watering system (the kind you turn on or off by hand) can only be
used to water gardens and lawns between 6 am - 8 am and 7 pm - 9 pm on
alternate days
* Automatic watering systems (the kind you set to turn on and off automatically)
can only be used to water gardens and lawns between midnight and 4 am on
alternate days
* Hand-held hoses with a trigger nozzle, a bucket or watering can may be used
at any time.
* A bucket, high pressure cleaning device or a commercial carwash can be used
at any time for vehicle washing.   A hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle can
only be used for pre-rinsing and rinsing.
* Paving, concrete and other hard surfaces:  Hosing banned except for construction
purposes or in emergency;  or for health or safety hazard.

Alternate days = odd numbered properties can water on odd dates, even & un-numbered properties can water on even dates

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Goulburn Valley Water has been able to ease the water restrictions thanks to consistent streamflows over winter which has allowed them to fill Ritchie Reservoir to its full capacity.

The Corporation will continue to monitor streamflows and storage levels on a weekly basis.   If flows in the Delatite River again fall below the environmental flow limit specified in their bulk entitlement document then diversion will cease and water restrictions will again need to be increased.

Goulburn Valley Water says:

"As you would be aware we are investing $3.6 million to construct a new 350 megalitre water storage at Mansfield.   This storage will be double the size of the Ritchie Reservoir and once completed will provide adequate storage for the town during normal summer periods and reduce the need for the regular water restrictions during summer.   Construction works, which will take approximately 28 weeks to complete, are expected to start before December with the storage being filled next winter."

Mr. Laurie Gleeson, Managing Director, says:

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your understanding and co-operation during the period of higher water restrictions.   I also request that you continue to conserve water wherever possible as drought conditions continue."

Full details of Stage 1 water restrictions can be obtained from Goulburn Valley Water's website
(www.gvwater.vic.gov.au)
or by calling 1800 45 45 00
(24 hour service).

• • •

If you have any water-saving tips send them to the High Country Times
Telephone: (03) 5779 1599
Fax: (03) 5779 1543
Email: highcountrytimes@iprimus.com.au

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Water Conservation Tips in the Home

Saving water in the home

Water is the most precious resource we have, yet we often take it for granted.
Saving water in our homes isn't hard, there are lots of simple things that we can do to make a real difference. Changing the way in which we use water around our homes is just as important as fixing leaking taps and buying water efficient appliances.

In the Laundry

The laundry often uses up to 20% of the water consumed in our homes.

• Wait until you have a full load before using the washing machine
• Adjust the water level to suit the size of your wash load
• If buying a new washing machine, purchase a water efficient model with a AAA rating
• When handwashing, wash clothes in a bucket and when finished use the water on the garden
• Install a greywater reuse system

A home-made grey water recycling system using 44 gallon drums and hoses.	Another home-devised grey water recycling system, for the laundry, using an old wheelie bin, hoses and taps.

In the Kitchen

Around 10% of water use in our homes occurs in the kitchen

• Fill the dishwasher so you have a full load before using it
• Use the 'rinse hold' function on your dishwasher rather than rinsing dishes beforehand
• Put the plug in the sink before rinsing vegetables
• Check for leaking taps and replace washers regularly
• Use only as much water as you need in the kettle
• If buying a new dishwasher, purchase a water efficient model with a AAA rating
• When boiling vegetables use just enough water to cover them and keep the lid
on the saucepan

In the Bathroom & Toilet

Most of the water, around 40%, that we use inside the home is used in the bathroom and toilet.

• Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth and shaving to save 5 litres of water
• Take a shorter shower, a shower only needs to be long enough to soap up, wash and rinse off
• Install a water saving shower rose
• Use a bucket in the shower to catch the water while you wait for it to heat up, use this on the garden
• Empty your dirty bathwater onto the garden using buckets
• Replace a single flush toilet with a dual flush toilet
• Use the half flush button when flushing the toilet. 
If you don't have a half flush button place a brick or a container filled with water in the cistern, this reduces the amount of water used each time you flush
• Check your toilet for leaks, a leaking toilet can waste thousands of litres of water a year

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Mansfield Stage 4 Water Restrictions
Fact Sheet
(December 2006)

How does the Mansfield town water supply system operate?

Goulburn Valley Water has a diversion entitlement for the extraction of water from the Delatite River. This entitlement permits the Authority to divert water from the Delatite River to the town water storages.  However, this diversion is only permitted when the flow in the river is greater than 18 megalitres per day.
Due to the drought conditions this year, Goulburn Valley Water has sought an agreement from the relevant regulatory authorities and the Minister for Water to allow the Authority to divert water for December, when the flows in the river are greater than 6 megalitres per day. This was approved by the Minister on 4 December allowing the Authority to take a small amount of water each day from the river until 31 December, subject to maintaining the revised minimum passing flow and maintaining river water quality.  As a result the Authority has been able to extend the operation of the standpipe at Mansfield on a temporary basis.

When are water restrictions introduced?

Water restrictions for Mansfield are introduced immediately when the flow in the Delatite River drops below 18 megalitres per day and are revised based on water consumption, levels in the storages and predicted rainfall.

Why aren't water restrictions introduced earlier?

It was not necessary to introduce water restriction earlier. When the Authority is permitted to divert water to the town water storages the reservoirs are kept full. At the end of September 2006, Ritchie Reservoir was holding 180 megalitres, or 100%. The smaller Mansfield No. 3 reservoir was holding 45 megalitres or 96%.
Flows in the Delatite River fell below 18 megalitres per day in mid October and Stage 2 water restrictions were introduced on 25 October. At the end of October the storages were still nearly full with 180 megalitres in Ritchie Reservoir and 40 megalitres in Mansfield No. 3 Reservoir. The long term forecast did not predict significant rainfall events and the Authority increased water restrictions to Stage 3 on 10 November.
At the end of November the water storages were holding 159 megalitres in Ritchie Reservoir and 43 megalitres in Mansfield No. 3 Reservoir. As the flows in the Delatite River continued to drop to around 8 megalitres per day, water restrictions were increased to Stage 4 effective 6 December 2006.

How much water does the Mansfield community use?

The current daily use in Mansfield by Goulburn Valley Water customers is around 1.5 million litres of water per day. In addition water carters are taking approximately 600,000 litres of water per day from the Mansfield standpipe to rural property owners. During winter, water usage within the township is approximately 1.1 million litres of water per day and the target is to reduce water consumption to this winter level.

What is a Standpipe?

A standpipe is where water tankers can fill up with water for domestic and fire fighting purposes. However access to this standpipe for supplying rural properties is subject to availability of water. The Authority's policy is that when any water supply system reaches Stage 4 water restrictions standpipes are closed (except for fire fighting purposes).

Eildon storage and flow advisory service - Phone: (03) 5770 8128
For Storage Level Report for all the local lakes -
Web page: http://www.g-mwater.com.au/browse.asp?ContainerID=1788