However,a more recent Seqwater water security status report from last month warns the water grid could reach 50 per cent “as soon as December 2021” if dry conditions,similar to 2019,continued from August.
Mandatory water restrictions,including limiting the use of sprinklers and a 140 litres per person per day target,will be introduced in the Brisbane,Ipswich,Lockyer Valley,Scenic Rim and Somerset councils when the combined level of the region’s drinking water dams fall below 50 per cent.
The Bureau of Meteorology predicted rainfall would exceed the median for the next three months.
But,in the July report,Seqwater conceded as winter was the dry season,rainfall levels were generally low.
“Considering the outlook for the next three months for the Wivenhoe catchment,we are not currently expecting a material increase to the water grid storage levels,” the report reads.
LNP water spokeswoman Deb Frecklington said the state government’s “failure to plan for the population growth is now costing Queenslanders”.
“People expect the state government to have a plan for water security but their only plan is to sit on their hands and pray for rain,” she said.
“It’s hugely concerning for south-east Queensland residents who will face water restrictions when the SEQ water grid drops below 50 per cent.”
But a spokesman for Mr Butcher said south-east Queensland had one of the most reliable water supplies in the country “thanks to the foresight of previous Labor governments”.
“We are well placed to respond to drought condition thanks to the infrastructure built during the Millennium Drought,” he said.
In December 2020,Seqwater chief executiveNeil Brennan flagged the body would wait until after summer,which was expected to be wetter than usual,until a decision was made on whether to fully restart the controversial $2.6 billion Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme,which would take two years.
Under the SEQ Drought Response Plan,Seqwater considers the full restart of the scheme when the region’s dam levels fall below 60 per cent.
The grid has remained below 60 per cent since September last year – except for a high of almost 62 per cent in April – as the region faced thelowest dam levels after summer since the Millenium Drought,which ended in 2009.
Combined dam levels were at 58.8 per cent on Thursday.
Recycled water is highly treated wastewater that has been purified to drinking water standards through multiple levels of treatment,including through sewage treatment,reverse osmosis and ultraviolet disinfection.
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A Seqwater spokeswoman said the body had a comprehensive plan in place to ensure the region’s water supply,especially in times of drought.
“The combined dam levels are currently hovering just below 60 per cent,as we approach the traditionally wetter months,” she said.
“We will continue to work closely with water service providers,government,industry and the community to ensure a secure water supply into the future.”