And while Mount Isa might be reluctant to climb to level-4 water restrictions, Cloncurry has been on them for a month. But the meaning of what level-4 restrictions mean is different to both councils.

According to the state government it is the responsibility of local governments to set the standards of the bans and enforce its water supply. 

Cloncurry residents are still able to use sprinklers on alternate days except Mondays, but sprinklers in Mount Isa will not be used when the city increases to level 4. 

The Cloncurry Shire Council’s chief executive David Neeves said the shire was using about 2.45 megalitres a day so far this month. 

It decreased from 3.75 megalitres a day last month, and even further from last October which was 4.14 megalitres. 

Cloncurry was “relatively secure” in water supply considering the time of year, Mr Neeves said. 

“Our current position is a direct result of the new Cloncurry Weir. 

“The weir successfully captured water that we are able to harvest back into Chinaman Creek Dam.” 

But Cloncurry residents could not be complacent in their water usage, the chief executive said. 

Last week Mount Isa City councillors decided not to increase restrictions to level 4. 

A council spokesperson said the requirements of Mount Isa’s level-4 restrictions had not officially been released, although Mayor Tony McGrady did warn it would mean a ban on sprinklers.

Mount Isa ratepayers were using more than 17 megalitres a day and it needed to decrease to about 16 megalitres.

Last week, Mount Isa’s chief executive Emilio Cianetti said recent water usage among Mount Isa ratepayers had increased.

 “What we were doing a day when we introduced level-3 restrictions was 12 to 13 megalitres a day, now it’s crept up to nearly 18 to 19 megalitres a day, so we have to bring it back,” he said.