Townsville Water Updates
Medium Level Water Restrictions Lifted, Permanent Water Conservation Measures Are Now in Place
The Northern Water Treatment Plant has officially resumed operations, following extensive repairs to the pipeline damaged during early 2025’s severe weather events. With the plant now back online, medium level water restrictions have been lifted, and Townsville’s water supply is once again being supported by both the Northern and Douglas treatment facilities.
This means the permanent water conservation that forms part of ongoing water conservation initiative is now in place.
What this means for you:
- Sprinkler use is operating on an Odds and Evens System from 5pm to 8am Tuesday to Sunday.
- Evens: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
- Odds: Wednesday, Friday and Sunday
- Handheld watering is unrestricted, although the recommendation is for early morning and evening where possible.
- Hard surface, vehicle, and boat washing can be done using pressure washers or a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle.
For more tips and info on water conservation, visit Our Water Smart City page.
Townsville Water is committed to providing safe, reliable and cost-effective water services to the Townsville community. Townsville Water is a registered Service Provider under the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008. The network is extensively tested on a regular basis to ensure all water meets the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
Water Restriction Levels by Categories of Use
Lawns, Grounds and Gardens (Residential, Rural, Commercial and School) Category
Watering residential and rural lawns and gardens and the watering of commercial lawns and gardens (including school grounds).
Low and Medium Level
Sprinklers only to be used 5am to 7am and 6pm to 8pm, Odds and Evens System applies.
Handheld Watering any time.
High Level
Sprinklers not to be used.
Handheld Watering 6am to 7am and 6pm to 7pm only.
Odds and Evens System applies to Handheld Watering, weeper hoses are restricted to Handheld Watering times.
Critical Level
No sprinklers or Handheld Watering allowed watering cans/buckets only, Odds and Evens System applies to Watering cans/bucket.
Emergency Level
Personal hygiene purposes only.
Council Parks and Gardens Category
Townsville City Council Parks and Gardens.
Low Level
14% reduction in irrigation volume.
Medium Level
No watering 9am to 4pm and 25% reduction in irrigation volume.
High Level
No watering 9am to 4pm and 50% reduction in irrigation volume.
Critical Level
No watering 9am to 4pm and 85% reduction in irrigation volume.
Emergency Level
No watering permitted.
Commercial Nurseries and Market Gardens Category
Commercial Nurseries and Market Gardens
Low, Medium and High Level
No watering between 9am to 4pm. Watering outside of that time by:
- Water efficient Sprinkler
- Handheld trigger or twist nozzle
- Irrigation System
- Watering can or bucket
Critical Level
No watering between 9am to 4pm. Watering outside of that time by:
- Irrigation System
- Watering can or bucket
Emergency Level
No watering permitted.
Vehicles and Boats Category
Washing vehicles and boats (other than flushing boat motors)
Low Level
No restriction Bucket or water efficient car wash.
Medium or High Level
Bucket or water efficient car wash.
Critical Level
Water efficient car wash.
Emergency Level
No washing vehicles permitted.
Hard Surfaces Category
Washing hard surfaces other than for safety issues.
Low Level
No restriction
Medium Level
Pressure washes only.
High, Critical or Emergency Level
No washing of surfaces.
Sports Fields Category
Irrigation of sports fields (including school sports fields)
Low Level
Sprinklers only to be used 5am to 7am and 6am to 8pm.
Handheld watering any time.
Or watering to be conducted as per a Council approved Water Efficiency Management Plan (WEMP).
Medium Level
Sprinklers only to be used 6pm to 8pm.
Handheld watering any time.
Or watering to be conducted as per a Council approved Water Efficiency Management Plan (WEMP).
High Level
No Sprinklers to be used.
Handheld watering – Odds and Evens System applies.
Or watering to be conducted as per a Council approved Water Efficiency Management Plan (WEMP).
Critical Level
Watering to be conducted as per a Council approved Water Efficiency Management Plan (WEMP).
Emergency Level
No watering permitted.
For full details please read Council's Water Restriction Policy.
More Information
For more water smart tips visit Our Water Smart City page.
For more information and statistics on our water services including water production capacity, please visit Townsville Dashboards.
Glossary of Terms
Approved Water Supply Emergency Response – means a water supply emergency response approved by the Minister under section 25I of the Water Act 2000.
Drip-Irrigation – means a system that delivers a slow and gradual supply of water directly to the soil profile. Water is applied through a series of drip emitters spaced at regular intervals of at least 30cm and with a maximum emitter output of 8 litres/hour. Drip-irrigation should be designed and installed to apply water to a specific landscaped (e.g. garden bed) area and should be covered to reduce evaporation.
Handheld Watering – means watering a garden with a hose that is being held on to by a person.
Irrigation System – means a network of permanent piping connected to emitters which has been designed and installed to water a specific area, where the maximum output of each emitter must not exceed 9 litres/minute.
Manager – means an individual responsible for overseeing and coordinating specific functions, departments, teams or projects with Townsville City Council.
Non-potable Water – means the water has come from a non-drinking water source, is not suitable for drinking but may still be used for other purposes.
Odds and Evens System – means a system under which water use is regulated having regard to whether the property address is categorised as an Odd or Even number. Water may be used in compliance with the current water restriction level within their designated watering days.
Designated water days:
- Wednesday and Sunday for “Odd” properties
- Tuesday and Saturday for “Even” properties.
Property addresses are categorised as “Odd” if:
- the number of the property within the street is an odd number – for example 3 Jones Street, or Unit “X” 17 Anywhere Crescent.
- there is no allocated street number, then the Lot number of the property is an odd number – for example Lot 11, Smith Road.
- the address includes more than one street number and the first number is odd - for example 143 – 202 Walker Street.
- there is no known Street or Lot number.
Property addresses are categorised as “Even” if:
- the number of the property within the street is an even number – for example 2 Jones Street, or Unit “X” 98 Anywhere Crescent.
- there is no allocated street number, then the Lot number of the property is an even number – for example Lot 18, Smith Road.
- the address includes more than one street number and the first number is even – for example 50 - 73 Long Street.
Personal Hygiene Purposes - using water for drinking, showers, handwashing, and flushing toilets. Water cannot be used for irrigation, handheld watering, clothes washing, dishwashing, filling up pools or washing vehicles or boats.
Sprinkler – means any device for distributing irrigation water other than a hand held hose or a Drip-irrigation system. The term includes a pipe or hose system with a nozzle, a soaker hose and any other device intended to distribute, sprinkle or spray water (including an automatic irrigation system).
Water Efficiency Management Plan (WEMP) – aims to assist business, sporting grounds and schools to better understand their water consumption and to describe what measures they intend to implement to improve their efficiency of water use.
Water Supply Emergency Declaration – means a declaration made under section 25B of the Water Act 2000.
Weeper Hose – means any device for slowly emitting water through a porous pipe where the maximum output per meter must not exceed 16 litres/hour.
Workers – includes employees, contractors, volunteers and all others who perform work on behalf of Council.
