Sisters and brothers can be doing it for themselves, temporarily at least, as a new water fill station for use by the public has been installed by Rous County Council.
The fill station has been opened in response to intense drought conditions causing an increase in demand for water carters and delays in supply.
Located in North Lismore, the fill station is now ready for domestic use only as it will not be available to commercial operators.
Rous County Council Chair, Keith Williams, said the collaboration between Rous staff and the constituent councils at this busy time of year has been impressive. ‘I am very proud that Rous staff have made this happen so quickly and responded to the urgent need of the community,’ said Mr Williams.
Rous County Council General Manager, Phillip Rudd, said the fill station has been provided to ensure drinking water is more readily available to the community. ‘With a dry outlook for the rest of summer, it’s vital that we do what we can to ensure people whose tanks are running dry have reliable and easier access to safe drinking water.
This fill station is a temporary measure to alleviate the pressure placed on water carters during this intense drought.’
Mr Rudd added it is important people maintain clean rainwater tanks and catchment systems for health and safety.
‘Well maintained rainwater tanks, roofs and gutters are essential for safe drinking water, whether it’s resupplied from a fill station or from rain, and especially during drought conditions when there is more chance of contamination from a build-up of biological matter.
‘People should also be aware that debris and ash from bushfires can contaminate tanks.’
All water that is supplied through fill stations on the Rous County Council network is subject to water level restrictions, currently at Level 1.
The new fill station is located at Lake St, North Lismore (near the Lismore Saleyards). It is open to the public 24 hours a day. Water may be purchased with a credit card and costs $5.75 per 1,000 litres.
No licence or account is required for their operation. Customers are required to bring their own container and ensure it is clean, of food grade quality and is only used for the collection and storage of water. Council recommends a 25mm hose outlet to fill containers.
The water fill stations provide potable water from the Rous supply network that complies with Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. More information on maintaining rainwater tanks is available through NSW Health.
A second fill station is still under construction at Bangalow and will be opened early in the new year.
Fantastic. Tamborine Mountain should have a council like you. Instead of looking after locals our council allows commercial extractors to take our water instead. Wish I could give you the 8kpa that my council charges me for rates. All I get is a bin collection each week for my extraordinary feed.
Goodonya, Rous!
A far better idea than Byron Shire Council’s recent offer of delivering water “at cost”. BSC must be grossly inefficient: their charge for delivery, allegedly “at cost”, is $100 MORE than that of the for-profit private operators!
Should we be surprised? Nah!
Meantime, Falls Festival is taking massive amounts of water out of Rocky Creek dam whilst we’re on water restrictions.. what kind of madness is being imposed ? We’re living in a corporate dictatorship.
Congratulations RCC..knowing there is a water re-filling station in Lismore will help travellers especially caravansers etc. Won’t have to carry water which helps money wise e.g. less fuel because of less load.