Great thread Ambient. Gee, I didn't realise it was that bad. I know from the news it says it is dry and that there are x amount of drought regions etc, but until you see the numbers like that it makes it easy to understand the future and not just the current situation. I guess it will take more than a bit of rain to increase them too, because the land is so dry it will soak up a huge amount before there is any run off.

Fingers crossed for some rain.

The ground is very hydrophobic at the moment so any heavy rain is just going to run off. I can see a flood event coming when the drought eventually breaks, will be good for the impoundments but will cause a lot of erosion.

There is lots of talk on TV and other media about water shortage.

Tamworth apparently is a problem but how bad is a bit hazy

https://www.northerndail...tion-for-tamworth/?cs=12

Tamworth water supply: WaterNSW report suggests Tamworth could run out by June 2020

but then

the major says something different. So you just don't now really. I don't live there but l wonder what the residents think?

Is there a problem or not..?Quite a mish mash really'Tamworth water supply: WaterNSW report suggests Tamworth could run out by June 2020

Council to fight for extra water from Chaffey Dam
Level 5 restrictions to be introduced early for Tamworth
Dam shame: councillor claims 500 days of water lost

But Col Murray said it was too early to be making predictions on a day zero for Tamworth and the city "was not that close" to running dry.

Cr Murray said there would be more certainty about the longevity of the city's remaining supply by the end of the summer.

"We're not sure what the losses will be without any irrigation from surface water," he said.

"We're not sure what the losses will be with water drawn from the aquifer for groundwater irrigation.

"We're doing our best to try and get the longest possible time out the water that is left."

The state government is believed to be working double time to get the Chaffey to Dungowan pipeline built by March 2020.

The pipeline has been seen as a solution to "transmission loss" which meant the council was requesting a release from Chaffey Dam almost double what was needed to service the city.

Cr Murray believed the pipeline would give the city more certainty and had bought more time.

"We would have definitely run out next year if the actions proposed weren't taken," he said.

The state government recently pledged $39 million to build the pipeline which was seen as an emergency measure to see the city through the drought.

But it appears there is still no certainty on a long term water security project.

An expansion to Dungowan Dam has firmed as the best option for Tamworth.

"That rests with the other levels of government and their capacity to fund it, local government simply does not have that capacity," he said.

Deputy premier John Barilaro said the state needed to start building dams sooner and suggested easing planning requirements and community consultation on the process.

Good to see there is movement at the station

https://www.theguardian....-drought-emergency-boost


NSW to get new dam as part of $1bn drought emergency boost