IT seems the gravity of Orange’s perilous water situation is ringing loud and clear with city residents who have drastically reduced water usage levels barely a week after level five restrictions were introduced for the first time in the city’s history.

Today the Central Western Daily introduces a regular Saturday feature on page 2 updating residents on weekly water usage patterns in conjunction with updates on the city’s water storage levels.

In the past week, Orange residents consumed 185 litres of water per person per day, well down on the average weekly use for the last five weeks of 226 litres.

Council has set an interim goal to reduce personal consumption to 180 litres per person per day.

That result has been described as “fantastic and encouraging” by Mayor John Davis while he conceded seeing water storage levels fall below 30 per cent capacity was disheartening.

“Seeing that figure makes the seriousness of the situation very real and it certainly does hit home,” Cr Davis said.

“However the fact that individual usage has dropped to 185 litres per person is absolutely outstanding when you consider residents have already halved their water usage in the last 12 months.

“It’s just the most fantastic result and I thank everybody sincerely for pulling together.”