Why water restrictions have been used

Water restrictions are an important tool Council uses to manage water use and maintain supply reliability across Cairns.

Level 4 water restrictions have been exercised twice this year.

This marks the first time Council has officially imposed such strict limits on water use, highlighting the increasing need for more frequent and severe restrictions due to current water supply challenges.

What’s putting pressure on our water supply?

Several key factors are contributing to current water supply challenges:

• Cairns continues to rely on Copperlode Falls Dam, which was built 50 years ago.
• Since 1976, the city’s population has increased from around 58,000 to more than 170,000 residents. This growth has placed additional demand on the existing water system.
• Water treatment must stop during periods of heavy rainfall due to high turbidity. During these times, the city relies on water stored in its reservoirs.
• Storage capacity is currently reduced. Two reservoirs are offline, and a third can only be filled to 65 per cent, meaning less water is available in reserve when treatment plant operations are suspended.

Why level 4 restrictions are necessary

Level 4 water restrictions play a critical role in managing these pressures.

By reducing overall consumption, the restrictions help slow the drawdown of reservoir levels and extend available water supplies during periods when treatment is unavailable.

Planning for long‑term water security

Council is actively progressing long‑term solutions through the Cairns Water Security Stage 1 project.

This project will help ease pressure on the current system and provide greater water security for a growing population.

In the meantime, careful management of the water currently available in the system is essential. Reducing day‑to‑day water use remains a key part of maintaining supply reliability.

What residents can do

Residents should be prepared for the possibility that tighter water restrictions may be required again.

It is also recommended that households store water in case of potential disruptions to the water supply.

For the latest information on current water restrictions, updates on reservoir repair works, and practical tips for saving water, visit: Cairns Water Supply | Have Your Say Cairns