during 29 january, brisbane's main water treatment plant at mount crosby was shut down after the high levels of sediment and silt in the brisbane river caused record turbidity levels, which resulted in seqwater and queensland premier, campbell newman urging residents to conserve water and to only use it for "drinking, cooking and bathing". water supplies in some suburbs of brisbane were expected to run out during 30 january, after an increase in consumption. the gold coast desalination plant was engaged from standby mode to supplement supplies with of water a day.