Source : Perth Now news
A Queensland town of 3000 people could run out of water on Tuesday night as the council issues an emergency warning.
“Council is urging all Clermont residents to immediately stop all outdoor water use and restrict indoor water use to essential needs only,” the warning says.
“Water consumption remains critically high, and there is a risk the town could run out of water tonight if usage is not significantly reduced.”
The Isaac Region Council issued the warning at 12.30pm on Tuesday.
A council spokesperson said there was likely a blockage in an intake pipe to the Theresa Creek Dam.
“These issues relate to the Theresa Creek Dam pump infrastructure and are unrelated to the recent water supply shortages experienced in Clermont,” the spokesperson said.
Divers are in the water to inspect the issue and clear any blockage.
“Water conservation remains essential while these works are under way,” the spokesperson said.
People have been asked to stop all outdoor water use immediately, limit indoor use to only essential drinking, cooking, hygiene and toilet use.
Isaac Regional Council information says more than 23,000 people live permanently in the council’s area, with 15,000 fly-in-fly-out and drive-in-drive-out workers. The town of Clermont has about 3000 residents.
Attempting to abate angry ratepayers in the comment section of the council’s Facebook page, a council spokesperson said “this issue is at the dam and is not related to previous issues”.
“This issue is that water pump driver has failed. That means we can’t get water from the dam to the water treatment plant,” the spokesperson said online.
“While we wait for a new one to arrive, we are not able to process more water, so we are relying on stores to get us through.
“We are asking community to conserve water at essential use only so that we will be able to continue to supply quality treated water while the works are undertaken.”
