Restrain urged

THE residents of Melbourne have been
urged to use water sparingly.
Restrictions were imposed due to
depletion of local water supplies.
Geelong residents, who have been
enduring similar restrictions since
February, could face even tighter
controls over summer. Despite good
rains, water authorities across the
state have been struggling to meet
demands. The water situation has
become alarming since the city faced
one of the driest summers on record
and an abnormally dry winter.
Operations manager, water, for the
western Australian provinces, Steve
McKenzie, said the Melton-Sunbury
area's two main storage dams were
60 per cent empty.

Now, gardens cannot be watered
with sprinklers; public parks and
sports grounds can be watered
only between 8 am and 9 am; market
garden, nursery and chicken farm
water usage is slightly restricted;
fountains must be turned off and driveways must not be hosed down. About
80,000 residents would be affected
by the restrictions, which were expected to last until next autumn, McKenzie
said.