Permanent Water Conservation Measures

[Whopper]

Looks like the days of watering your lawn in South East Queensland will be gone forever, no matter how full the dams get.

http://www.qwc.qld.gov.au/Efficient+irrigation

There is still a ban on watering lawns and hosing pathways and driveways and penalties still apply.

And even though there's no need for water restrictions, it looks like we're going to get them anyway

http://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/living.aspx?id=878

Despite recent rains and the regional dam levels exceeding 60%, the Government will delay the move to Permanent Water Conservation Measures. This decision was made to provide sufficient time to allow the community time to familiarise themselves with the new efficient irrigation requirements that apply under Medium Level restrictions, which will continue under Permanent Water Conservation Measures.

$9 billion on the water grid, and I still can't water my fking lawn

Current dam levels for the combined Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine Dams are now at a combined total of 76%. We haven't seen the dams this full since April 2002 (Source: http://www.seqwater.com.au/public/dam-levels)

There is absolutely no reason that I can figure as to why they can't abolish water restrictions or at least loosen them significantly. Oh, hang on... there is one reason... a politically motivated one... Bligh has just forked out $9 billion on a water grid that we don't really need anymore... but surely that wouldn't be the reason behind implementing permanent water restrictions now would it? What will happen once the water grid goes in?

[dibbsy]

You know if we all watered our lawns it would probably rain more

[dibbsy]

I'm all for recycled water and desal to be pumped into the dam, but I want to see the dam at 100% and no restrictions on the water so we can soak our lawns and let that evapourate back into rain.. So I disagree with this being referred to as permanent. @!#$!@#.

There is a few good things in this compared to medium level;
* Watering gardens or lawn with a bucket or watering can is permitted at anytime.
- Previously only between 4pm and 8am.
* Cleaning house/vehicles/entertainment areas at any time using a bucket of water, hand held hose with a trigger or twist nozzle, or a high pressure cleaning unit.
- Previously between 4pm and 4:30pm twice a week.

The certified irrigation stuff sucks for hobbyists, I guess the sad truth is people would just ignore it, if you can afford the landscaped garden and the irrigation system you can afford the certification *shrug*

Anyway, might get my pressure cleaner out woop!

[Whopper]

Permanent is just another reason for them to justify their own existence. I guess the "Water Police" can now rest assured that their jobs are secure.

I really wonder sometimes whether the whole job security thing is more important than common sense. I hope the decision not to dissolve (get it? lol) the Water Police/Water Commission/etc wasn't a political one. I'm sure the opposition would have made a lot of noise if people lost their jobs because it's no longer necessary to be so vigilant about water use.

Use efficient irrigation systems including drippers, micro-sprayers, pop-up sprinklers and drip lines and fi t with a manual timer or electronic timer
− Electronic timers must be used with a rain sensor or a soil moisture sensor

What the hell? So the electronic one that I can set to run once every 3 days for 10 minutes now needs a rain or moisture sensor? How many thousands of these devices are out there already? Oh well, I guess I'll just turn the tap on the sprinkler system on after 4pm and come back some time later in the evening to turn it off (if I remember that is!)

Oh, and I'm not happy about the "permanent" restrictions either. Just another reason for the council to write tickets, generate revenue, and justify their own existence.

[dibbsy]

Electronic timers must be used with a rain sensor or a soil moisture sensor

I think that means if they turn on automatically. I would class it as a sprinkler if you just set it on for 30 mins manually of an arvo

Sprinklers
Use only:

• if it emits less than 9 litres a minute
• with a timer
• for up to 30 minutes

[Whopper]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/q...-1225838427960

But Premier Anna Bligh and water managers say there will be no easing of permanent water saving measures.

"We can't be complacent and we must treat water as a precious resource not to be wasted whether our dams are 50 or 100 per cent," Ms Bligh said.

"I think the public understands how important water conservation is and have adopted water saving measures as part of the daily lives. One of the reasons the dams are now at 93.8 per cent capacity is because of the community's water conservation efforts."

So what to do with the overflow? Oh, just pour that in the Brisbane River, because new pipeline that SHOULD be pumping from Wivenhoe Dam to Toowoomba is broken

[Whopper]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...09/2840805.htm

Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke says the government should trust south-east Queenslanders and lift water restrictions.

Premier Anna Bligh says it is likely Target 200 [litres per person per day] will continue even though the Hinze Dam is overflowing and Brisbane's three water storages are almost full.

Councillor Clarke says Gold Coast residents were careful with their water use before the current restrictions were introduced.

"We found that without restrictions, people used about the same as when they're on," he said.

"You can easily bring it back ... if people are using too much.

"If there's too much water coming out of the dam, too much water being used by residences, then bring back the restrictions."