With a hot dry summer ahead, Central Coast Council is urging residents and businesses to continue the water saving efforts that have helped delay the introduction of water restrictions.

Since Council launched the “Live to 150L” campaign in September, thousands of people have visited the online water use calculator and other tools for tips on saving water.

Live to 150L encourages everyone to use no more than 150 litres of water per person per day. On current usage, this represents a savings of just three buckets of water each day for every person.

Council’s Director Water and Sewer, Jamie Loader said storage in Mangrove Creek Dam is 53 percent. Earlier this year, Council lifted the restriction trigger level from 40 percent to 50 percent. Mangrove Creek Dam is likely to reach that trigger in mid to late summer.

“It’s been heartening to see how the community has engaged with the water conservation message, which complements Council’s work of ensuring the ongoing security of our water supply,” Mr Loader said.

Council has several major projects underway:

• construction will begin in early 2020 on the $61million Mardi to Warnervale pipeline which will service the growing northern corridor and increase the region’s capacity to transfer water between the Coast and the Hunter region
• design work has begun on a $27.4million upgrade of the Mardi water treatment plant, increasing its capacity and establishing it as the principal source of the Coast’s drinking water supply
• innovative mains cleaning program which minimises water wastage and improves water quality.

Mayor Lisa Matthews said the community had answered the call to ‘Live to 150L’ and help conserve water on the Coast.

“There have been calls for Council to move to water restrictions now, but this is not necessary at this time as our residents are resilient, resourceful and responsible water users,” Mayor Matthews said.

Thanks to their ongoing conservation efforts our dam levels are holding steady. This combined with infrastructure, helps to reduce pressure on our water supply.

“Together we can make sure every drop counts and continue to protect our precious water supply now and in the future.

Water Wise Rules apply to outdoor water use. They remind us to:

• water the garden before 10am or after 4pm to avoid the heat of the day
• reduce water use by using a trigger nozzle on all hand-held hoses
• wash vehicles with a bucket or trigger nozzle hose, and on the grass wherever possible
• avoid hosing paths or driveways and instead use a broom.

For information about saving water both indoors and outdoors, visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/lovewater.