Measures are being taken to ensure Lachlan River communities have water through another summer and winter, even if the drought doesn't break.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
WaterNSW issued a statement last week saying there was still enough water in Wyangala for drought contingency measures to extend dam water supply to October 2020.
"With Wyangala Dam storage at 20 per cent of capacity - compared to Burrendong at 4.1 per cent - there remains flexibility to make significant water savings by implementing operational changes no longer possible in other drought-impacted valleys," WaterNSW said.
"All major towns in the Lachlan Valley potentially have access to alternative supply sources and WaterNSW is working closely with local councils to extend supply from the dam to give communities ample time to ensure standby supply is ready.
"Operational changes and other drought measures already ensure that supply is guaranteed until at least June 2020, even under a continuation of extreme drought, and further operational changes would extend that date to October 2020.
"Options such as deferred delivery of stock and domestic supply and efficient delivery of allocations and basic landholder rights means town water can currently be supplied entirely with dam water beyond mid-2020 even with zero inflows.
"Carryover has already been reduced to 57 per cent availability and flows into regulated Willandra Creek will be cut in December to reduce transmission losses."
WaterNSW has already met with various councils and will participate in a NSW Government drought information session in Condobolin on Tuesday, October 29 and consult with its local River Operations Stakeholder Consultative Committee regarding options to further extend water availability for critical needs with minimal impact on local and regional economic activities.
The NSW Government has announced $659 million to raise Wyangala dam wall by 10 metres from 85 metres to 95 metres and increase its capacity by 650 Gigalitres.
In 2018-19 inflows in the Lachlan system totalled 107 gigalitres (GL), well below the long- term annual average of 1,212 GL, but at least double that of drought-affected northern valleys.
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting significant rainfall on Saturday and Sunday with up to 30mm forecast.
