Rural residents struggling to source enough potable water for domestic use will receive a helping hand.
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Goulburn Mulwaree Council has installed two taps to supply small quantities of potable water for rural and village residents who are not on reticulated water to use for domestic purposes.
The initiative is being funded by the Mayoral Emergency Relief Fund. It was established earlier this year specifically to help drought affected people and by August had accrued over $38,000, including a $10,000 council contribution.
The taps are located adjacent to the Goulburn Recreation Area on Braidwood Road and have garden hoses attached. The council is asking community members to limit the amount of water taken to 1000 litres at any one time.
It is installing CCTV nearby to ensure the service isn't misused. A spokesman said it would work using an honesty system. Asked how they would ensure only rural residents sourced the water, he said the council was relying on residents to "do the right thing."
Mayor Bob Kirk said it was a small way the council could assist those who didn't have access to town water.
"It is intended to be taken only for domestic personal use, and I am confident that in these difficult drought conditions our residents will do the right thing and respect this service," he said.
Containers used to cart the water should be clean, and appropriate to drinking water standards.
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The spokesman said the council would take no reponsibility once the water was in the container.
Accredited water companies also deliver up to 20,000 litres of reticulated water to properties in the council area to refill household tanks. A list of those companies is available on the council's website. Rural property owners can apply for a 50 per cent cartage subsidy from the State Government.
Meantime, applications are still open for the Mayoral Emergency Relief Fund, which can assist people with living expenses or water purchases.
Cr Kirk told The Post that more people had applied for assistance in the last few months but thanks to donations rolling in, the Fund still stood at about $35,000
Application forms are available on the council's website or at Customer Service in the Civic Centre.
In related news, council utilities director Marina Hollands said Goulburn and Marulan people were meeting the 230 litre per person per day under amber water restrictions, which came into force on December 1.
Goulburn's total storage as at December 11 was sitting at 64.8 per cent, while usable storage was 61.6pc. Evaporation from December 5 to 11 was estimated to be 134 megalitres.
During October, evaporation from Sooley Dam was 179ML and 266ML from Pejar Dam, a council report stated.
In November, Goulburn received just 12mm of rain and started to release water from Sooley Dam due to low flow in the Wollondilly River.
Also during November, Goulburn drew 86.76ML from the Wingecarribee Reservoir via the Highland Source pipeline to supplement supply.
Water theft
The council has issued a fine to a contractor for stealing water from a fire hydrant at south Goulburn.
General manager Warwick Bennett told The Post that a council employee photographed the tanker tapping into the hydrant near the corner of Ducks Lane and Hume Street.
The contractor has been issued with an invoice for a tankerload of water and fined $250 by the council, the maximum penalty under the NSW Local Government Act.
The Post understands the party was undertaking road works near Goulburn.
The council appealed for public assistance last month following tip-offs that people were using special connections to tap into fire hydrants, steal potable water and sell it at cost.
"(We have) received a number of leads following publicity around water being taken," a spokesman said.
"The amount taken is unfortunately difficult to calculate. The council is dealing with these thefts on a case by case basis."
Utilities director Marina Hollands said tapping into any part of the main posed a significant risk to water quality.
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Louise Thrower
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
