Emergency water restrictions for Oura Water Supply Scheme

Published on 05 January 2020

Goldenfields Water County Council advises customers that due to an electrical fault on one of our major pumps at the Oura water treatment plant and the unprecedented demand during the ongoing emergency situation in southern NSW, emergency water restrictions have been introduced immediately for customers located on the Oura Water Supply Scheme.

Goldenfields Water would like to assure all customers that there is sufficient supplies of water available to meet community, rural and emergency needs in support of the current emergency operations however restrictions are required to preserve operational infrastructure until repairs can be effected at the Oura plant.

These restrictions apply to the townships and surrounding areas of:

• Junee
• Temora (residents may also experience some discoloured water)
• West Wyalong
• Marrar
• Ungarie
• Ariah Park
• Ardlethan
• Barellan
• Barmedman

All of the above towns and surrounding areas are under emergency water supply restrictions until further notice.  At this stage Goldenfields Water cannot provide an accurate time frame that these restrictions will be required to be maintained. Goldenfields Water staff are working around the clock to establish a solution to regain the full capacity of the pump station and we request that all customers please adhere to the restrictions being imposed to ensure that supply is maintained for critical needs during this time. Once the fault has been identified and a solution initiated, an estimated time frame can then be provided. It is hopeful that we will be able to advise of an estimated time frame for these restrictions being imposed by Monday evening (6th January 2020).

The following restrictions apply to all customers (residential, rural and commercial) within the Oura Water Supply Scheme:

Domestic Use

• No irrigation is permitted at any time until further notice

• No use of sprinklers, soakers, hand held hoses or watering cans

• Filling of swimming pools and spas is prohibited

• Washing Motor Vehicles is not permitted, except mirrors and windscreens

• Minimise shower use to less than 4 minutes

Commercial use

• Crop spraying is prohibited

• Irrigation of any kind is prohibited

• Water Cartage from Standpipes is prohibited; however alternate standpipe locations are available (contact GWCC for approved locations)

• Washing Vehicles is prohibited; however windscreens and mirrors are approved.

• Process and Manufacturing to restrict operations to less than 5L/s

Under the Local Government Act 1993, the maximum penalty that may be applied for a breach of imposed water restrictions is $2,200 for corporations and $220 for individuals.

Notice is hereby given under Regulation 137 of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005, which permits the use of water to be restricted if there is a shortage of supply

Goldenfields Water wishes to apologies for any inconvenience and thank everyone for their patience during this period of restriction.