# Armidale Regional Council water management efforts > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/armidale-regional-council-water-management-efforts > Updated: 2026-09-02T06:30:00.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. The Armidale Regional Council has implemented new measures to manage water resources in response to drought concerns. The council completed a $4.5 million digital water meter rollout covering over 9,200 properties in Armidale and Guyra. This system enables remote reading and provides real-time usage data to residents, which has already assisted in identifying leaks that cost affected properties an average of approximately $994 each. Following this rollout, the council is considering a draft drought management plan that links water restriction thresholds to community behavior. Under this proposal, higher restriction levels could be triggered by a failure to meet specific per-person daily usage targets, even if dam levels remain stable. This development follows a reported 20 per cent decrease in Malpas Dam levels since early 2026 and concerns regarding an El Nino forecast. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-02: Armidale Regional Council proposes new drought management plan Armidale Regional Council is drafting a drought management plan that could trigger water restrictions based on community usage behaviour, regardless of dam levels, due to El Nino concerns. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/armidale-regional-council-proposes-new-drought-management-plan ### 2026-08-27: Armidale Regional Council completes $4.5M digital water meter rollout Armidale Regional Council completed a $4.5 million digital water meter rollout in Armidale and Guyra, helping residents detect leaks and saving an estimated $364,680 in potential excess billing. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/armidale-regional-council-completes-45m-digital-water-meter-rollout --- Cite as: Armidale Regional Council water management efforts. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/armidale-regional-council-water-management-efforts