Level 4 water restrictions have come into effect across Cairns after heavy overnight rain pushed turbidity levels so high the Freshwater Treatment Plant was forced offline around 1am Sunday. With treatment paused, the city is now relying solely on stored water, and residents are being asked to limit use to essential health and hygiene needs only.
Deputy Mayor Brett Olds says every household can help stretch supply by keeping showers short and using rainwater to flush toilets where possible.
Continued wet weather and high turbidity mean there’s no clear timeframe for when treatment will restart, and Council will reassess restrictions once operations are safely back online and supply stabilises.
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