South East Queenslanders are being urged to make water savings their number one New Year’s resolution as SEQ dam levels decline and hot, dry conditions continue.

The latest water supply assessment by Seqwater shows that the SEQ Water Grid dams continued to drop during December, losing almost 2.5% over the month.

On the last day of 2019, the SEQ Water Grid combined dam levels were at 56.4%.

High water consumption levels continued during December with water use across SEQ averaging 210 litres per person per day over December. This is 20 litres per person per day higher than the same time last year.

Seqwater Chief Executive Officer Neil Brennan said the start of a new year was a timely reminder for all South East Queenslanders to renew their efforts to save water in and around the home.

“We have certainly seen a very dry December resulting in record high temperatures together with water use above 200 litres per person per day,’’ Mr Brennan said.

“We are calling on all South East Queenslanders to reduce their water use to 150 litres per person per day and help preserve our dam levels for as long as we can.”

Mr Brennan said over the past decade, water consumption has averaged about 170 litres per person per day compared to 300 litres per person before the Millennium Drought.

“During the Millennium Drought we reduced our water usage to as low as 120 litres per person per day by being water efficient around our homes and gardens and we need South East Queenslanders to be water wise again,” he said.

Seqwater and the region’s water service providers launched the first stage of the SEQ drought response plan in November 2019 with a region-wide water saving campaign. Seqwater also increased production at the Gold Coast Desalination Plant.

Mr Brennan said the SEQ water saving campaign would continue across a range of channels during January to prompt simple changes indoors and outdoors to make every drop count.

South East Queensland would need to experience another failed wet season for the combined dam levels to reach 50% when region-wide water restrictions would be considered.

However, water restrictions have, or will be, enacted for some communities not connected to the SEQ Water Grid. In late November, water restrictions were implemented in Canungra and restrictions will be extended to some other towns in the Scenic Rim from 5 January 2020.

For more information about water restrictions for communities not connected to the SEQ Water Grid visit www.seqwater.com.au/water-restrictions

For simple indoor and outdoor ideas to save water and hit the 150 litres per person per day target visit www.seqwater.com.au/water-wise