One of Australia's largest inland cities has called for urgent support from the WA government after its 200-megalitre dam ran dry.
The Piccadilly Street Dam in the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder holds more water than all the city's other reservoirs combined.
A special council meeting has been called for February 6 to discuss the city's water shortage.
It comes after an emergency meeting during which councillors were briefed about the region's dwindling reserves.
With the dam exhausted, the city-owned and operated wastewater recycling facility has become the mining town's main source of municipal irrigation.
The plant provides water for the city's parks and green spaces including Sir Richard Moore Oval, Hammond Park, the Kalgoorlie Boulder Racing Club and the golf course.
The city also has agreements with the government to provide water to eight public schools and the oval at the Eastern Goldfields Regional prison.
Time of crisis
Mayor John Bowler said the city was seeking an "urgent meeting" with the state water minister.
He said the cost of purchasing water from state-owned utility Water Corp was one of the highest in the country.
Discussions are also underway between the council and Lynas Rare Earths who entered into a water supply agreement as part of the miner's plan to build a $575 million cracking and leaching facility in 2021.
The water supply agreement took effect on February 1 last year and allows the miner a maximum of 1.7 gigalitres annually.
Water sale questioned
Mr Bowler said the facility was only using 30 per cent of its allowed water usage, but he would be meeting with Lynas and asking the operators to take a further reduction.
"Part of the Lynas contract says that if inflow into our lagoons reaches a certain amount, then it's null and void and they agreed to that," he said.
With limited water supplies and a drying climate, questions have been asked as to why the water supply agreement between the city and the rare earth producer was implemented.
Mr Bowler said the estimate around what the city was in a position to supply over the long term was "not accurate" but backed the deal to sell water to the operator.
"I don't resolve from the Lynas contract … I think the estimates weren't accurate," he said.
"They did those figures on good times when there was probably above average rainfall, then we've had average and below average rainfall ever since … it was actually below when we signed it."
Blanket reductions
He said reductions would be imposed across all the city's green spaces until water levels rose, with one exception at the golf couse.
"We will not reduce the amount put on the greens, because you can't get them back," he said.
"The greens are only a small part of the course, we will be reducing the amount of water we put on the fairways, and a reduction on the tees.
"That'll get us through the rest of summer and of course, if we get a big heavy rain, we don't need restrictions."
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Racing Club chief executive Robert Murison said he was told on Tuesday to expect hefty restrictions that could result in the club losing more than half of its water allocation.
Mr Bowlers dispelled the concern saying a blanket 30 per cent reduction was planned.
He said the shortage would not impact the city's drinking water supply.
