Tanks, cut in water use the answer ...

From the Chronicle on 7 January:

If every house in Toowoomba reduced its internal water use by 50,000 litres a year, the city's water crisis would be resolved.

Greg Cameron, part-owner of the Victorian-based Urban Rainwater Systems, has been working on this plan for five years and says a mandated reduction in water consumption combined with the compulsory installation of a rainwater tank at the point of sale of a house, would negate the need for expensive water projects.

The idea came after he developed a valve which would switch to the reticulated water supply when the tank was running empty.

"It took three months to develop the valve and five years to work on the government regulations," Mr Cameron said.

Governments were reluctant to enforce a level of internal household consumption because they had a vested interest in making money. "The only water the state doesn't own is (off) your roof." Mr Cameron said.

For more details see - Urban Rainwater Systems website.