Water Restrictions
Narrabri Shire Council manages six town water supplies across our Shire, including Narrabri, Wee Waa, Boggabri, Bellata, Gwabegar and Pilliga. To ensure a safe and secure water supply, Council may introduce water restrictions at different levels depending on water availability, demand, and supply security.
Water restrictions are designed to help our community use water wisely and protect our most essential resource. Restrictions are introduced in stages, from Level 1 (lowest) to Level 5 (highest), with each stage placing tighter limits on how water can be used.
Every drop counts, and every person matters — by working together, we can reduce demand, conserve supply, and avoid moving to higher levels of restriction too quickly.
On this page
Current Status
Narrabri is currently on Level 4 water restrictions and will remain on Level 4 but with a temporary sprinkler and splash pad exemption from 7.00pm Thursday, 29 January 2026. Level 4 has been in force since 7am Saturday, 24 January 2026.
These restrictions are enforceable, and breaches can result in fines.
What does this mean?
- Properties connected to the Narrabri town water supply may use fixed sprinklers between 7.00pm and midnight only.
- Handheld hose watering of lawns is still allowed between 7.00am and 7.00pm
- Top up of existing swimming pools (new pools require Council approval)
How are we tracking?
We provide the Namoi Street Reservoir level here each afternoon when on Level 4 or higher water restrictions. The level provided is as at 5pm each day.
What does each level mean?
Level 1
No official restrictions but the community is encouraged to be water wise every day.
Level 1 water restrictions are always in place.
Level 2
RESIDENTIAL
Garden watering: Watering between 7pm and 7am recommended.
Cleaning (footpaths, driveways, buildings, etc): Between 7pm and 7am recommended.
Swimming pools: Filling new pools requires Council approval; topping up existing pools is permitted.
Vehicle washing: Permitted any time with handheld hose or pressure washer.
COMMERCIAL
Lawns and Gardens (inc. racecourse, bowling greens and golf course): Watering between 7pm and 7am recommended.
Schools and Health Care Services: Watering between 7pm and 7am recommended.
Cleaning (footpaths, driveways, buildings, etc): Between 7pm and 7am recommended.
Washing of new or used cars for sale: Between 7pm and 7am recommended.
EMERGENCY SERVICES
Exempt from restrictions.
COUNCIL FACILITIES
Public Parks and Gardens: Watering to take place at night.
Public Sports Grounds and Playing Fields: Watering to take place at night.
Splash Park: Reduced operating hours (School holidays, public holidays and weekends - 12pm to 6pm, Weekdays during school term - 3pm to 6pm)
Level 3
RESIDENTIAL
Garden/Lawn watering: Watering only between 7pm and 7am, sprinklers allowed.
Cleaning (footpaths, driveways, buildings, etc): Between 7pm and 7am only.
Swimming pools: Filling new pools requires Council approval; topping up existing pools is permitted.
Vehicle washing: Bucket washing only.
COMMERCIAL
Lawns and Gardens (inc. racecourse, bowling greens and golf course): Watering only between 7pm and 7am.
Schools and Health Care Services: Watering gardens/lawns only between 7pm and 7am.
Cleaning (footpaths, driveways, buildings, etc): Between 7pm and 7am only.
Washing of new or used cars for sale: Between 7pm and 7am only.
EMERGENCY SERVICES
Exempt from restrictions.
COUNCIL FACILITIES
Public Parks and Gardens: Fixed hoses and sprinklers only allowed to be used 6hrs/day.
Public Sports Grounds and Playing Fields: Auto sprinklers 1hr/per line daily.
Splash Park: Reduced operating hours (School holidays, public holidays and weekends - 12pm to 6pm, Weekdays during school term - 3pm to 6pm)
Level 4
RESIDENTIAL
Garden watering: Handheld hoses only between 7pm and 7am.
Cleaning (footpaths, driveways, buildings, etc): Not allowed.
Swimming pools: Filling new pools requires Council approval; topping up existing pools is permitted.
Vehicle washing: Not allowed.
COMMERCIAL
Lawns and Gardens (inc. racecourse, bowling greens and golf course): Recycled water and handheld hoses only.
Schools and Health Care Services: Handheld hoses between 7pm and 7am only.
Cleaning (footpaths, driveways, buildings, etc): Recycled water only.
Washing of new or used cars for sale: Bucket washing only.
EMERGENCY SERVICES
Exempt from restrictions.
COUNCIL FACILITIES
Public Parks and Gardens: Fixed hoses and sprinklers only allowed to be used 3hrs/day.
Public Sports Grounds and Playing Fields: Auto sprinklers 1hr/per line every second night.
Splash Parks: Non-operational.
Bulk Water Filling Stations: Access reduced to one station per water supply.
Level 5
RESIDENTIAL
Garden watering: Bucket watering only between 7pm and 7am.
Cleaning (footpaths, driveways, buildings, etc): Not allowed.
Swimming pools: Pools not to be topped up or filled with town water. New pools not to be filled without approval from Council.
Vehicle washing: Not allowed.
COMMERCIAL
Lawns and Gardens (inc. racecourse, bowling greens and golf course): Recycled water only.
Schools and Health Care Services: Bucket washing only between 7pm and 7am only.
Cleaning (footpaths, driveways, buildings, etc): Recycled water only.
Washing of new or used cars for sale: Bucket washing only.
EMERGENCY SERVICES
Exempt from restrictions.
COUNCIL FACILITIES
Public Parks and Gardens: Handheld hoses only.
Public Sports Grounds and Playing Fields: Recycled water only.
Splash Parks: Non-operational.
Bulk Water Filling Stations: Access reduced to one station per water supply.
As we move to Level 4 water restrictions, any existing residential/domestic exemptions will be paused. New applications may be submitted but please note only those with extenuating circumstances will be reviewed and approved. Any new applications submitted that do not have extenuating circumstances will not be assessed until we move back to Level 3. Please allow our team three working days once we return to Level 3 water restrictions to receive a response.
Applications for commercial use will continue to be assessed on Level 4.
Water Restrictions Exemption Form
Why do we need water restrictions?
Water restrictions help manage our water supply during times of stress, whether from drought, high demand, or changes in water quality standards. They allow Council to prolong available water and ensure safe supply for essential use.
Why did water restrictions need to be introduced?
Narrabri’s town water supply has been impacted by changes to the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, which reduced the allowable level of PFAS in drinking water. This has reduced the number of bores we can access and increased pressure on the remaining sources. Introducing water restrictions will help stretch supply.
What is Council doing to save water?
Council has applied the same guidelines to its own operations and, in some cases, is going even further by tightening irrigation and water use across public spaces. Our focus is on conserving as much water as possible.
Why do we continue to be on water restrictions?
Narrabri is currently reliant on primarily Elizabeth Street bore, with some minimal use of Tibbereena Street bore. During the warmer periods and periods with less rain we see water use increase because people want to keep their gardens alive, lawns green, and naturally use more water in their homes for cooling, consumption and hygiene.
When demand increases the amount of water leaving the reservoir each day increases. This means we must increase the amount of water that is fed back into the reservoir. Unfortunately, while we are relying on predominantly one bore we can't always achieve this.
It is at the point where demand consistently exceeds supply that we must introduce water restrictions, and is why we continue to be on water restrictions in Narrabri.
What are you doing to fix the bigger issue?
We are currently working towards some medium and long term solutions.
Our medium term solution is the implementation of a new bore to provide more PFAS free water to our town water supply. We are currently in the flow and water quality testing phase of this project. Introducing a new bore to a town water supply takes much longer than introducing a bore to a private water supply as there are many rules and policies we must follow. Council staff and other government departments are working as quickly as possible to progress through the required rules and policies to get a new bore online.
Our long term solution is a temporary water treatment plant - which we received $4M in funding for in 2025. In January 2026 we did an EOI for the design and construction of the treatment plant. In March we will go tender with the expectation that the successful tenderer will be on site by June. It is expected that the new plant will take six months to design and construct meaning that it is likely to be online in early 2027.
In 2025 we also installed a new, larger pump in the Elizabeth Street bore which increased the pumping capacity meaning we could fed more water into our reservoir than before.
What is the fine for breaching water restrictions?
Under the Local Government Act 1993 - Section 637 (1) fines of $220 are applicable to breaches of water restrictions.
Isn’t this Council’s fault?
No – the changes to the national water guidelines are what created this situation. Council advocated for support and in late 2025 we received funding to drill a new bore and construct a portable water treatment plant. Council is currently working to get these two solutions online.
If you witness a water restrictions breach you can report it here.
Water Restrictions Breach Form