A heatwave swept the state over the weekend, with warnings ramping up not only on staying safe, but to conserve water. 

Recent observations in the Narromine Shire found that residents are currently consuming nearly more than 5 million litres of water each day, surpassing sustainable levels. 

As the high temperatures continue, the council’s Director of Infrastructure and Engineering Services Melanie Slimming has emphasised the need for conscious water consumption. 

"As the temperature soars and rain remains scarce, we typically witness a surge in water consumption.”

“Currently, Narromine town's daily water consumption is at 800 litres per person, four times than the Australian average," Ms. Slimming said.  

Across the region, with several councils including the Warrumbungles and Cobar already enforcing water restrictions.

The Warrumbungles’ Timor Dam is at its lowest levels since 2019, at just over 65 per cent. 

Calls to preserve water echoes similar notions across the country, including NSW households being urged earlier last year to reduce their electricity usage ahead of a heatwave that would strain the state’s power supply. 

Last month, the Queensland state-owned power grid remotely turned down almost 170,000 air conditioners six times across the month to reduce pressure on the network. 

While water conserving habits are encouraged, the BOM has offered several tips to stay cooler during the coming weekend, including closing windows and curtains early in the day, and if home isn’t cool, seek out a library, community centre or shopping centre. 

To minimise water wastage, the Narromine Shire Council recommends shorter showers, running full loads of laundry, and watering gardens and lawns in the late evening. 

"Narromine Shire residents have a commendable track record of reducing water consumption when needed,” Ms Slimming said. 

“We encourage everyone to uphold this tradition, ensuring our water treatment infrastructure can consistently provide safe water for the entire Narromine Shire Local Government Area."