The Mount Isa City Council says an average of eight people every day are being fined for flouting water restrictions.

The city is drought declared and under level two water restrictions, meaning sprinklers can only be used to water gardens during two hours – morning and night on alternative days.

The city’s main water source, Lake Moondarra, is sitting at 30 per cent capacity, while the back-up dam, Lake Julius, is now under 70 per cent.

Mayor Tony McGrady says people will be fined if they do not abide by the rules and more people are also reporting residents who are not doing the right thing.

“Neighbours are ringing me and the council complaining about their neighbours because they’re doing the right thing and why shouldn’t the neighbours?” he said.

“So we have that situation, plus the fact that council officers are going around in the early hours of the morning detecting people who have left their sprinklers on all night.”

He says the council is having serious talks about the need for more restrictions.

“We are discussing almost on a daily basis with the Mount Isa Water Board and Mount Isa Mines as what the next step should be and obviously we’re going to have to make some decisions fairly soon,” he said.