I see that 170,000 southeast Queensland pool owners will be required to buy pool covers (average cost $500 each) by July 2007. This will stop milions of litres of water a day being wasted by evaporation. (It should also be a big boost to businesses who supply pool accessories.) People who fill pools from rainwater tanks will be exempt.

To add to this particular financial grief felt by pool owners, they will also be required to do further penance by installing at least two of the following: dual flush toilets, a water-efficient washing machine or water-efficient taps and shower heads.

Come the end of October, using a bucket or a watering can to water gardens in Brisbane will be allowed only on alternate days. (A hosepipe ban came in months ago.)

Businesses and government offices are also going to face mandatory restrictions for the first time.

The top 10 per cent of business water users will have to come up with ways to reduce their usage by 25 per cent or implement best practice management for their industry with fines of up to $15,000 waiting for those who don’t pull their socks up.