A drought-stricken Queensland shire has been forced to introduce extreme water restrictions after then region’s main dam level fell below 10 per cent.

March 14, 2019

The severe drought in southern Queensland has forced an inland rural community to introduce extreme water restrictions.

About 35,000 residents in Southern Downs Regional Council, which borders NSW in the southeast corner of the state, had already been restricted to four-minute showers.

But from Thursday, households have been told to further reduce their daily water usage to just 120 litres per person – less than half the national average.

Average daily water usage nationally is 274 litres per person, according to the Department of Environment and Energy.

Mayor Tracy Dobie says the ongoing drought has hit the region hard and extreme measure were needed to preserve the region’s dwindling water supply.

“This is the worst drought we have ever encountered in living memory, perhaps recorded memory,” she told ABC radio.

“Low dam levels, dry conditions and high water consumption have triggered a move.”

The council’s main reservoir, Leslie Dam, is currently at 7.2 per cent capacity.

Water supplies at Storm King Dam and Connolly Dam have fallen to 41 and 45.2 per cent respectively.

The Southern Downs was drought-declared in May 2018 following extremely dry conditions when little rainfall fell for many months.

The extreme water restrictions were introduced at a special council meeting on Wednesday.

Rural residents accessing water from the Stanthorpe and Warwick standpipes will also have their access to supplies restricted.

They’re now limited to purchasing a maximum of 1000 litres per fill, capped at 3000 litres per week.