The dam has dropped to 4.6 per cent of capacity following little rainfall in the catchment and minimal flows into the dam. 

Keepit Dam is under the operation of a drought management strategy which means Water NSW will cease releasing water to fill orders from Monday, and will only release water to satisfy stock and domestic, town water supplies and high security licence holders. 

In an attempt to stop levels from dropping even further, Water NSW has been shortening the distance of where it delivers water to along the Namoi River over the summer months in an effort to maximise the amount of water in storage to meet irrigation demand

“Under minimum inflows, we are in a better position than we originally anticipated,” a Water NSW spokesperson said.

All the water inside the dam storage belongs to licence holders who have a legal requirement to access it, however the drought strategy means requirements will change.

Water NSW said it can continue to satisfy stock and domestic, town water supplies and high security licence holders over the next two years under the drought srategy.

The last time the dam dropped to critical levels was in February 2007 when levels were at 1.8 per cent.