Level 5 Water Restrictions come into effect for all properties connected to the Nimmitabel town water supply from 5pm Thursday 12 November 2026, due to blue-green algae in Lake Wallace Dam severely restricting Nimmitabel's access to water.
Council switched the Nimmitabel water supply over to bore water on Monday 9 November 2026. The two backup bores have been struggling to keep up with demand and Council has now begun trucking water in to keep supply tanks filled.
Nimmitabel's water use needs to come down to a level the bores can supply, or even more stringent emergency-level restrictions will need to be put in place.
Residents in Nimmitabel need to reduce the amount of water used per person to a sustainable level. Please do your part to help us keep the water flowing.
Penalties apply for non-compliance.
The new restrictions will remain in place until conditions improve.
Nimmitabel has been under Level 2 Water Restrictions since Tuesday 24 February 2026.
Nimmitabel Level 5 (Critical) Water Restrictions
Still allowed
- Bathing, laundry, washing up, flushing the toilet, washing hands
- Reusing household water to water plants and gardens with a bucket or watering can
- Using non-potable water to wash vehicles parked on lawns or porous surfaces
- Using non-town water for bowling green sprinkler and watering systems
- Cleaning paved areas with town water following an emergency
- Using non-potable water for dust and pollution suppression during construction and related work
- Firefighting
Not allowed
- Using town water for anything else — if it's not listed above, it's not allowed
Level 5 Water Restrictions are the second-highest level of restrictions. Nimmitabel residents and businesses need to act now to conserve water.
