Despite forecasts for a hot, dry summer, Redlands had good water security, according to a report out on Monday.
The annual Water Outlook for South East Queensland, released by the region’s Water Service Providers Partnership, summarised key information about dam water supply levels, water consumption and weather forecasts.
Seqwater chief executive Peter Dennis said some of the region’s dams were below 60 per cent capacity, including Capalaba’s Leslie Harrison Dam, but the overall security of the network was good.
He said Seqwater would monitor dam levels and water consumption closely after the Bureau of Meteorology forecast for a hot and dry summer.
The average daily water consumption across the south east in November was 190 litres per person per day.
Mr Dennis said that was in stark contrast to consumption levels before the millennium drought, when the region’s residents were using an average of 330 litres per person per day.
Despite his praise for people using water sparingly, Redlands continued to have the highest water consumption in the south east.
Between November last year and October, the average daily water use per Redland resident was 206 litres compared with an average of 167 litres a day over that year for water users across the South East.
Mr Dennis warned people to conserve water in order to cope with Queensland’s climate of extremes.
“Making smart choices all year round saves money and protects our water supply.”
He said Seqwater worked with Redland City Council, to ensure the network was well prepared to manage extreme weather events or other changing circumstances.
Redland City Council’s water infrastructure spokesperson Cr Paul Gleeson said the city’s network was expanded this year with a sewerage system upgrade at Dunwich and emergency procedures put in place.
He said a 300mm diameter trunk water main was built to connect the Seqwater trunk system in Boundary Road to Kinross Road in Thornlands in preparation for future development.
Council also started sewer works at two residential areas at Dunwich which were on septic tank systems so the majority of the township would have access to sewerage by March.
Fire flow precautions were also put in place at Capalaba and Cleveland to improve water availability for emergencies.