Can you last a night without running water?

With water restrictions on the horizon, Tweed Shire Council is urging everyone to sign up for Water Night and join the night’s online activities to fnd out why saving water now is vital.

Mayor of Tweed

Shire Chris Cherry said people taking part in the national event on Thursday 19 October would be asked to turn off their taps from 5 pm to 10 pm and spend a night without running water.

“Most of us use water more often than we think. Like nothing else, Water Night highlights how much we rely on this precious resource,” Cr Cherry said. Go to waternight.com. au to sign up and gain details on the night’s activities.

Cr Cherry said without signifcant rain, the Tweed may head into water restrictions, making Water Night even more relevant than

before.

“I urge everyone in the Tweed to sign up for the night and from today, please save water now. Together we can make our limited supply last as long as possible,” Cr Cherry said.

“If we all make a conscious effort to use just 160 litres of water a day per person, we can delay water restrictions.

“We’re not far off – last week we each used about 177 litres a day. Cutting your daily shower time by just 2 minutes will save that precious 17 litres!”

On Friday 29 September 2023, Council began releasing water from Clarrie Hall Dam to supply the Bray Park Weir pool on the Tweed River.

The drier El Nino weather has caused river fows in the Tweed River and Oxley River, the sources of the Tweed’s water supply, to drop.

Despite the rain over the past week, the dam’s capacity has dropped by 1% to 97% during this time.

When the level reaches

85%, Council will introduce Level 1 water restrictions in the Tweed water supply area.

“Tyalgum has its own water supply with its own constraints so Level 2 restrictions are just weeks away there, depending on rainfall levels,” Cr Cherry said.

Water carting from Uki and Tyalgum is always banned.

When water restrictions are in force, water carting from elsewhere in the Tweed to other local government areas is also banned.

Council is currently completing planning works for the proposed raising of Clarrie Hall Dam to increase the volume of water that can be stored, securing the Tweed’s water supply in the face of climate change and population growth.

Go to tweed.nsw. gov.au/water-savingsrestrictions for tips on saving water.

‘Mum, HOW COME you went out the other night, locked me in, and didn’t come home ‘till the morning? Well, I want an explanation. (It’s ‘Leemo Cat’ here addressing ‘Mum Jane’) Anything could have happened to me whilst you were out gallivanting Mum; I could have been kidnapped; and to compound my concern, you were ALSO out for the whole a ernoon of that day and, as well, spent the whole morning of that day in our bathroom. Well, what’s your story?’ Naturally, I received the ‘stare glare’ from the browfurrowed thoughtless old woman; I deduced she is, without doubt, trying to conjure up some paltry subterfuge for her tawdry behaviour. (I am NOT making her a cup of tea ‘till she fesses up.) Some minutes later, she actually spoke to me in a reasonably quiet voice, but I sensed an aura of menace in her stance. ‘Right Leemo, answer me something. I’m sure, with that vast fount of knowledge stored in your tiny brain, you’ll know the answer. Tell me, what is a Colonoscopy Leems?’

Eeek, now that’s a word I admittedly don’t know intimately and (oh bother!) I can’t look it up ‘cos crabby-puss is sitting right in front of our computer. Hmmm. I’ll meditate deeply and nd the answer.

So, a er some time, I replied. ‘Well Mum, I think the proper name is a Bumblectomy; it is also known as a Hamstercam examination.’ Oh, Dear God, the eyebrows were raised right up to her hairline (awful look) and she spoke loudly. ‘Don’t talk such absolute crapp Leems, you haven’t EXPLAINED to me what a Colonoscopy actually is at all, you’ve simply tossed out those ridiculous ‘made-up’ names. So, WHAT IS IT Mr Smarty Pants Cat?’ Crikey, quick Leems, think think think. ‘OK Mum, I’ve remembered. A ‘KoeLun-OS-Kuh-Pee’ is an exam doctors carry out to peek in & see if there are any changes in a human’s large intestine or areas nearby. ey use a big long exible tube with eyes which slithers in, has a very good look around and then pops out again to tell the Doctor about any abnormalities.’ Mum had a dazed look on her face; no doubt enraptured by my medical knowledge. BUT, if she thinks’ I’m nished she’s wrong; I again asked why she had stayed out all night, where she was that a ernoon, and WHY she was in our bathroom all morning of the same day? I swear her countenance went greenish, but she said she would tell all. Hmmm? ‘Well rstly Leems, I was NOT out gallivanting. I was ‘preparating’ for a KoeLun-OS-Kuh-Pee. I had to drink lots of horrid medicine stu the night before, and again the next morning before I went to the hospital for the examination at 2pm. AND THEN, ‘cos I’d had anaesethic I slept at our caring neighbour’s house so they could watch out for me. e stu I had to drink required I spend lots of time in our bathroom before hospital so my insides were all rinsed out and sparkly clean for the viewing tube. Gottit?’ OMG, her explanation sounds like something from a ‘Bad Jelly the Witch’ nightmare. Obviously she’s made all this up so I shall go check with my buddies the truth about the tale she told me. Nitey with suspicious thoughts & purrsies, Leemo.