The new public water refill station in Lake St, North Lismore, near the Lismore Saleyards, is already being put to good use.

Rous County Council (RCC) told The Lismore App that the new North Lismore public water refill station was used between 20 to 30 times per day until the rainy weekend last weekend - and the frequency was increasing.

For domestic use only, it’s one of two new public stations being built by the local water authority to alleviate the time delays of having a water carter bring drinking water to your water tank.

Today, Friday January 24, RCC's website listed the Emigrant Creek Dam level at 64% and the Rocky Creek Dam level at 69%.

Rous County Council General Manager, Phillip Rudd said that 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,” he said.

The new Lismore public fill station is open to the public 24 hours a day and water can 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. 

Mr Rudd said 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,” he said.

“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.

A second public fill station is still under construction at Bangalow.

The public stations are now part of Rous County Council’s network of designated bulk water filling stations across the supply area of Lismore City, Ballina Shire, Byron Shire and Richmond Valley councils.  

There are already 11 stations designated for commercial bulk water carriers, who are required to register with Rous County Council and obtain a 'Permit to draw water from designated water filling stations'.