Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles has denied the state's southeast could come close to running out of drinking water.
Confidential emails, obtained by Brisbane Times under a freedom of information application, show that Seqwater warned the region's dams could fall below 50 per cent capacity this year.
Seqwater's Mike Foster emailed Water Minister Glenn Butcher's chief of staff with a warning in January.
"The rainfall over summer to date means we are not likely to hit 50 per cent trigger for restrictions until at least June," he wrote.
A more recent Seqwater report last month said the dam levels could hit 50 per cent as soon as December.
Water rationing is triggered, including a limit of 140 litres per person per day, if dam levels fall under 50 per cent.
Rationing affects Brisbane, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim and Somerset residents.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles says he's yet to see the emails, but he stressed that strategies are in place to secure water supplies.
"The water department is constantly working to model out how population growth will impact on water supplies and what strategies we can put in place to address it," he told reporters on Friday.
"I haven't seen that particular report but no doubt they're aware of it, and are looking at it.
"The water department has lots of work underway to develop strategies that can ensure that we have sufficient water to address what is a booming population growth here in the southeast."
The region's water levels have been consistently below 60 per cent since September 2020, with current levels at 58.8 per cent.
Brisbane Times reports that a call for new dams or desalination plants was emailed to Mr Butcher's office in December 2020.
Liberal National Party water spokeswoman Deb Frecklington said the state government should secure drinking water supplies as soon as possible.
"People expect the state government to have a plan for water security but their only plan is to sit on their hands and pray for rain," she said in a statement.
"It's hugely concerning for southeast Queensland residents who will face water restrictions more often when the SEQ water grid drops below 50 per cent."
Solutions to supply issues suggested by Seqwater include the controversial $2.6 billion Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme.
The scheme would pump purified recycled wastewater into Wivenhoe dam, where it would blend with rainwater run stored in the dam.
Downstream that water would then be treated again at Mt Crosby plant before being pumped to homes and businesses.
