Bligh's new water policy for SEQ ...

Excerpt from Sydney Morning Herald:

Qld aims to wind back water restrictions

11 February 2008

The Queensland Water Commission has announced new triggers for the winding back of water restrictions as south-east Queensland dam levels continue to rise.

Commission chair Elizabeth Nosworthy on Monday announced current level six restrictions, in which households are encouraged to use 140 litres per day, will be wound back when combined dam levels reach 40 per cent.

Limited hosing would be allowed under new targets, with individual residents asked to limit water use to 170 litres a day.

Restrictions would be further wound back when dams reached 50 per cent combined capacity, with a new target of 200 litres per day.

Once the dams reached 60 per cent, 230 litres per day would be permitted.

Ms Nosworthy said the Drought Exit Strategy was based on the latest analysis, rather than on a plan developed years ago before the community embraced the Target 140 campaign.

"This is a plan that really essentially gives the community credit for becoming world leaders in water saving," she told reporters.

"It recognises we've changed the profligate usage we had pre-drought and it trusts the community to keep valuing water even as we start the process of stepping back from Target 140."

The combined capacity of the dams is currently 35.5 per cent.

Experts say 50 to 60mm of rainfall would be needed over 24 hours in the catchment area to reach 40 per cent combined dam capacity.

Ms Nosworthy said even if the Wivenhoe system's dam levels did not reach 40 per cent, the south-east region would be rewarded for its water saving efforts with a "wet afternoon" on March 1 and 2.

Residents of odd numbered houses will be able to use a single hand-held hose with a trigger or twist nozzle for one hour from 4pm (AEST) on Saturday, March 1, to wash cars, clean houses and equipment and water gardens, if need be.

Even numbered houses would be able to do the same on Sunday, March 2.

Ms Nosworthy said the trial would determine if the region could afford "wet afternoons" while still under extreme restrictions, also known as level six, under which residents have been urged to limit their water usage to 140 litres per day.

See - Bligh's new water restrictions.

Does everyone need to hand back the 4-minute shower timers?

Maybe people could post them to former Premier Beattie, c/- the University of South Carolina ...