During the second half of last year, as Armidale went onto level 5 water restrictions, there was a strong campaign by Armidale Regional Council to encourage residents to use less water.

While it worked, recent months have seen water use increase as people are encouraged to wash their hands more regularly to help combat the coronavirus pandemic.

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But mayor Simon Murray said the increased rainfall meant the water supply at Malpas Dam had remained steady.

"It's a combination of a number of factors," Cr Murray told The Armidale Express.

"There has been small inflows into Maplas Dam over the last month or so, and the dam last time I heard was around 54 per cent, so those inflows, and the cool weather, they match the outflows that are happening at the moment."

To help stop the spread of the COVID-19, washing hands for 20 seconds was one of the main messages promoted by the health authorities.

"That did concern me a while back, but I think with these regular little bits of rainfall we're getting, is enough to keep the dam around 54 per cent," Cr Murray said.

"It hasn't really changed a lot. It's gone up from 51 per cent to 54."

But Cr Murray said the supply is still lower than it was this time last year, and water restrictions would not be reduced.

"That's why we're saying don't get too excited about us trying to reduce water restrictions, because even though the predictions are that it might improve with weather conditions, we take the conservative approach," he said.

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