Apart from a wet month in March, not much rain fell last year and in September 2017 water restrictions were being mooted.

Level one water restrictions, in September, were set to be introduced into the region for the first time since February 2010 as the dry spell had an impact on the Shoalhaven River flows which is the trigger to implement water restrictions.

However, in November over 50mm of rain fell in the Shoalhaven River catchment area which replenished the water storages.

On Wednesday (January 3) the area was greeted with a nice gentle drop of morning rain, after some storms, but the prediction for the next few months is not good.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology the outlook for January to March rainfall is moderate over most of Australia, except southern parts of Western Australia.

Temperature wise January to March daytime and night-time temperatures are likely to be cooler than average for large parts of eastern and western Australia, but warmer than average for the southeast and southwest.

Meanwhile, Shoalhaven Water encourages customers  to be mindful of water use and offers the following advice (see below).

Check for leaks regularly by reading your water meter. You can easily do this by taking a reading before you go out then taking another reading when you get home. If the meter has ticked over you may have a leak.

If you discover you have a leak call a plumber immediately to help you detect were the leak may be.

If you are away or not regularly at your property turn the water meter off before you leave to prevent unintended water usage

Some hot water systems, including solar panels, air conditioning units, reverse cycle systems and pool solar heating have pressure relief valves and overflow outlets which release water. This water should be diverted away from the house to avoid damage; consider reusing this water on gardens or lawns to keep them healthy.

Wash your car or boat on the lawn and water the grass at the same time.

Use a broom, rake or outdoor blower to clean paths and driveways.

Make sure taps and hose fittings are not leaking, a dripping tap can waste more than 2000 litres a month.

A forgotten sprinkler can waste thousands of litres of water, install a timer to prevent wastage.

When watering the garden use a trigger nozzle hand held hose and only water were required.

Water your garden in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid water evaporation.

Choose the right plants, there are many water wise varieties available which require much less maintenance and watering.

Mulching the garden is a great way to reduce evaporation and water run-off.

Good quality mulch will also provide nutrients and reduce weed growth.

Watch the weather forecast, if rain is coming you won’t need to water the garden.

Install a rainwater tank for garden use, check for rebates offered by Council.

Kitchens account for up to 20% of your indoor water usage, installing an efficient low-flow tap will help reduce the amount of water you use.

Install an aerator and/or a water flow-reducer attachment on your tap to reduce your water usage.

Always turn taps off so they do not drip.

When hand-washing dishes, never run water continuously.

When using a dishwasher only wash full loads, and use the shortest cycle possible. Many dishwashers have a conserver cycle.

When cleaning fruit and vegetables, wash them in a partially filled sink and then rinse them quickly under the tap.

Keep a bottle of drinking water in your refrigerator instead of running your tap until the water gets cool each time you want some water.

Repurpose used water on the garden.

Upgrade old toilets and install dual flush cisterns.

Check regularly for toilet leaks, try putting a small amount of food colouring into the tank and observing whether it seeps to the bowl without flushing.

When shaving, partially fill the sink and use that water rather than running the tap continuously use short bursts of water to clean razors.

Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth and only turn the tap on to rinse or clean the brush.

Use aerators and/or water flow-reducer devices on all your taps.

Short showers use less water than baths, but if you still prefer bathing, avoid overfilling the bath.

Capture shower water in a bucket while you are waiting for the hot water to heat up, your plants will love it.

Wash only full loads in your washing machine.

Use the shortest cycle possible for washing clothes, and use the "suds-saver" feature if your machine has one.

If your washer has an adjustable water-level indicator, set the dial to use only as much water as is really necessary.

If you have a septic system, spread out your washing to avoid heavy-use days that could overload the system and use environmentally friendly products.