Tallangatta residents urged to reduce outdoor water use due to bushfire runoff
21 January 2026
North East Water is asking Tallangatta residents to be mindful of all outdoor water use until further notice, following bushfire runoff impacting the town’s drinking water supply.
General Manager Environment, Systems & Operations, John Day, said bushfire runoff has caused dirty water in Lake Hume at the point where water is extracted for Tallangatta’s supply.
“The bushfire runoff has significantly increased sediment in the raw water, which is slowing down our treatment plant’s ability to process it,” Mr Day said.
“As a result, our treated water storage is running low, and we’ve started carting additional water from Wodonga to help maintain supply to the town.”
Mr Day said reducing demand over the coming days is critical as we enter another heatwave period.
“With everyone’s cooperation, we can ensure Tallangatta continues to have a safe and reliable drinking water supply.
“Most household water use happens outdoors, so we’re asking residents to hold off on watering gardens and lawns, and not to fill or top up any swimming pools,” he said.
Mr Day also encouraged residents to make small changes indoors to help conserve water.
“Simple actions can make a big difference — taking shorter showers, running washing machines and dishwashers only when full, and brushing teeth with the tap turned off all help reduce demand,” he said.
North East Water confirmed that Tallangatta’s tap water remains safe to drink.
Residents who experience low water pressure or discoloured water are encouraged to contact North East Water on 1300 361 644, available 24/7.
“We apologise for the inconvenience and thank the community for their support during this time,” Mr Day said.
“We’ll continue to provide updates via our website and social media channels until the issue is resolved.”
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