Eurobodalla Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy

Eurobodalla Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy
The rate of storage depletion during drought and filling after drought
The ability to conserve water during drought
Setting the security of supply standard defines the yield of the system, and consequently
the future supply infrastructure provision requirements. For a given level of demand
reduction there is a trade-off between the setting of security of supply standards and the
timing and extent of supply source development.
At one end of the spectrum, an attempt to ‘drought proof’ the regional scheme would incur
considerable capital expenditure and environmental costs, while at the other end insufficient
supply source infrastructure will put the Eurobodalla community at increased risk of running
out of water, with associated economic and social impacts. The 5/10/20 rule aims to
achieve this balance and allows the comparison of different systems. The rules allow a
system to be developed that would provide sufficient storage and management of water
supply through a worse drought than on record. Management during a drought would be
assisted by Council’s restriction policy. Whatever drought it is designed for there is always a
statistical possibility of a worse drought occurring.
The Eurobodalla Shire’s restriction policy aims to maintain a balance between minimising
the frequency of restrictions and maximising the duration that stored water can be made to
last in a drought. The key steps in Council’s current restriction policy are:
Level 1 Restrictions
Level 1 restrictions are implemented when the Deep Creek Dam storage level falls below
80% and supplies from the rivers are no longer practical or very limited.
There is a ban on the use of fixed watering devices such as sprinklers (including pop-ups)
and unattended hoses with the exception of:
Hand-held hoses
Micro and drip irrigation systems
Bowling and golf club greens
Commercial market gardens and nurseries
Turf wickets available to the general public
Public or commercial swimming pools and essential areas.
Level 2 Restrictions
Level 2 restrictions are implemented when Deep Creek Dam storage level falls below 70%
by volume.
There is a complete ban on the use of fixed watering devices such as sprinklers (including
pop-ups) and unattended hoses with the exception of:
Bowling and golf club greens
Commercial market gardens and nurseries
Turf wickets available to the general public
Public or commercial swimming pools
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