Rockhampton Regional Council is urging residents to reduce water consumption following several weeks of high usage across the region, with local reservoirs under increasing strain.
Water Councillor Edward Oram said the call comes as warmer weather drives up demand, placing pressure on treatment infrastructure, particularly in Mount Morgan.
"Higher temperatures naturally lead to more water use, which is understandable," Cr Oram said.
"That being said, the recent spike in consumption is higher than we'd like to see."
While the Fitzroy River Barrage and Mount Morgan No.7 Dam remain at healthy levels, Cr Oram explained the challenge lies in the capacity of Council's treatment plants to keep up with demand.
"Our treatment plants have defined processing limits and require consistent water levels to refill reservoirs throughout the day," Cr Oram said.
"Smaller plants, like the one in Mount Morgan, face greater challenges due to their limited treatment capacity.
"Over the last few weeks, the treatment plant has struggled to recover between peak periods during the day and is not reaching its optimal fill levels.
"Given this, we're asking Mount Morgan residents to be especially mindful of their water use and to limit non-essential activities."
Cr Oram said that while the pressure was felt largely by the Mount Morgan Water Treatment Plant, the increase in consumption has been consistent right across the region.
"The Glenmore Water Treatment Plant has recorded a significant processing increase, rising from an average of 65 million litres per day in September, to over 91 million litres per day in October - a jump of 26 million litres per day in just one month," Cr Oram said.
"It's a timely reminder for us all to try and be more waterwise – especially with this week marking National Water Week."
Tips to reduce water consumption:
- Outdoor watering accounts for around 75% of total water use - being mindful how you water your yard makes the biggest difference
- Avoid watering between 9am and 4pm when most of it evaporates in the sun
- Apply mulch to help retain soil moisture and reduce the need for frequent watering
- Water deeply and less often rather than lightly all the time - it's more effective and better for your garden