Drones will not be used to check whether or not pool owners are complying with water restrictions, Dubbo Regional Council has confirmed.
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A pool owner contacted the Daily Liberal and claimed he was told council had planned to hire staff to operate drones that would look into backyards to monitor compliance with water restrictions.
"Council is not using drones to monitor backyard pool use," the council's acting chief executive officer (CEO) Natasha Comber said.
"Council does have trained staff in the operation of drone technology, primarily for the purposes of inspection and monitoring of council assets," she confirmed.
"Data captured is managed in accordance with surveillance and privacy legislation."
Ms Comber said rangers would physically patrol areas where town water was available and investigate complaints about water misuse.
"Council officers have regulatory powers to enter into properties to investigate breaches of the Local Government Act, including water misuse," she said.
"These powers enable officers to...inspect anything on the premises outside of the home, take measurements, require questions to be answered, examine and test any meter, measure the water supply, and take samples or photographs."
Ms Comber did not say if council had concerns about water restriction related misinformation being circulated in the community.
"It's important that community, government, and industry work together to be wise with our water and ensure everyone gets the same information," she said.
Level four water restrictions start on November 1.