October 13, 2009: Bega Valley Shire Council’s environmental scientist, water and sewerage services, Ken McLeod, says the flow of water in the Bega River through Bega has recharged the aquifer around the town bores.

He said there was sufficient runoff from the rain last week in the Bega River catchment to provide a flow of water past the borefield last Friday, fully recharging the groundwater around the bores as it passed through.

"The groundwater level is now above where it was this time last year and now means there are no concerns about the supply of water to the Bega-Tathra water supply system as we head into summer.

"The Bega-Tathra water supply system provides water to the towns and villages of Bega, North Bega, Tarraganda, Kalaru, Tathra and Mogareeka.

"Further south, Yellow Pinch Dam on the Tantawanglo-Kiah water supply system is at 69% capacity".

"Yellow Pinch dam provides water to Merimbula, Tura Beach, Candelo, Wolumla and many rural customers with a connection to the trunk main network.

"The recent rain has provided some flow to Tantawanglo Creek, enabling Council to recommence extracting water in to Yellow Pinch Dam, however the flow is already dropping away again limiting the amount of water available.

"More rain is needed to replenish Tantawanglo Creek flows and enable Yellow Pinch Dam to be filled again.

"Council is continuing to monitor the situation in Brogo Dam where there has been some inflow and a rise in water level and also at Kiah where a flow in the Towamba River has recharged the aquifer, improving the situation for Eden and Pambula areas".