Dry times in Byrock as water carting begins

Bourke Shire Council has begun carting water to the village of Byrock as storage levels drop. Photo contributed

Bourke Shire Council has begun carting water for domestic use to the village of Byrock. Water storage levels are below that which allows for effective pumping.

Bourke Shire Council General Manager, Leonie Brown, said the water supply at Byrock is a non-potable supply, and the water to be carted is for domestic purposes only.

“During these dry times, Byrock village residents should be aware that the water being made available for use within the village is to be restricted to internal household use only for such things as bathing, washing of plates, dishes and cutlery and for the washing of clothes,” Mrs. Brown said.

“Village residents are also asked to take care and ensure that there are no leaking pipes on their property that may adversely impact the amount of water available for use within the village.”

Mrs. Brown said that in past periods where water has needed to be carted, the residents of Byrock had been diligent in ensuring that their household water usage had been frugal and she said she anticipated a similar level of cooperation from local residents during this dry period.

Water carting to the village will be undertaken three days a week and will continue until there is sufficient water in the storage to allow pumping to recommence from that source.

Mrs Brown extended the thanks of Council, and the thanks of Byrock Village residents to the NSW Government, and specifically to the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy,  the Environment and Water, for the provision of funding that would allow this emergency water carting to become reality.