Residents in Clermont, Central Queensland, are facing emergency water restrictions after both pumps supplying the town from Theresa Creek Dam failed on Monday.

The water emergency was still affecting the community on Wednesday, September 30, with Isaac Regional Council working to restore the supply and repair the damaged infrastructure. The town relies on Theresa Creek Dam for its raw water supply, making the simultaneous pump failures a significant local infrastructure issue.

An emergency warning was sent to Clermont residents on Tuesday afternoon, asking the community to significantly reduce water consumption while council crews worked to stabilise the system.

One of the failed pumps has since been replaced and is operating, while council workers are carrying out short-term repairs on the second pump. Divers have also been inspecting infrastructure at the dam to investigate what caused the failures.

Residents have been instructed to conserve water and avoid outdoor water use. Essential activities such as drinking, cooking, bathing and flushing toilets remain permitted under the restrictions. A water tanker has also been made available near the Isaac Regional Library to provide additional water.

The response has included additional council workers who are helping refill water tanks and monitor water quality while repairs continue.

Residents have responded by substantially reducing their water consumption. Council reported that usage fell from almost 30 litres per second on Monday afternoon to about 15.4 litres per second by Tuesday afternoon. Storage levels also increased during the response.

The latest emergency is particularly significant because Clermont has experienced other water infrastructure problems in recent months. An earlier failure at the town's water treatment plant resulted in restrictions, while other communities within the Isaac Regional Council area have also experienced water-supply issues.

An independent audit following the earlier Clermont water problem found that the town's available supply had fallen to only several hours at one point in August. The audit made 26 recommendations concerning water infrastructure and emergency planning.

Isaac Regional Council is now investigating the latest pump failures while working to restore a reliable water supply. Council has indicated that the second pump will undergo a full replacement once normal water levels have been restored.

For residents, the immediate priority remains conserving the limited water available while repairs continue. The council has said another update will be provided as work progresses.

The emergency demonstrates the importance of reliable water infrastructure for regional communities, particularly where a town depends on a small number of critical pumping systems.

At this stage, the emergency restrictions remain part of the response to the pump failures, and residents are being asked to continue following council instructions until the water system is stabilised.