Drought response
When our overall storage levels go below 70%, we start planning for drought and water restrictions.
Our water storages are vulnerable during drought due to high rates of evaporation in warm and dry conditions. We transition into water restrictions when overall storage levels drop below 60%.
In response to drought conditions, we increase certain operational activities to help conserve and diversify our drinking water. This includes:
- Quicker reponse times to leaks across the network
- Operating the Tomago Sandbeds
- Receiving water through our interregional transfer scheme with Central Coast Council
- Engaging and educating the community with water saving campaigns
- Working closely with large business customers to improve water efficiency
Water storage level monitoring
Our staff monitor storage levels and use other information, including complex computer models of the performance of our water supply system based on historical climatic patterns, to help make decisions on when restrictions are introduced. View our storage levels.
The Lower Hunter Drought Response Plan
This document outlines how we work with NSW Government work together to manage drought in the Lower Hunter.
It includes the drought response actions taken during each water storage level trigger.