12 December 2007
Despite recent rain Tasman District Council’s Dry Summer Taskforce convenor Dennis Bush-King said water restrictions will be held at current levels.
“The rain has been most welcome but the ground is still very dry on the Waimea Plains and without more rain, river and groundwater levels will drop back very fast. As a precaution, and because more rain is predicted we have decided to eke out another week at Stage 1,” Mr Bush-King said.
Water permit holders in the Upper Catchment, Reservoir, Waimea West, Delta, Upper Confined Aquifer, Lower Confined Aquifer, and Golden Hills zones are at Stage 1 rationing (i.e. a 20 percent cut in allowable take).
Restrictions on domestic water use also remain in place, with the Richmond supply continuing to be under pressure from high usage, but Mr Bush-King congratulated consumers on reducing demand.
“There was a good response from urban water users and the Council itself has been able to achieve compliance with its own consent limits,” he said.
Hosing restrictions are in place in the urban areas of Richmond, Mapua – Ruby Bay, Brightwater, Hope, Tapawera and Wakefield and the rural water supply schemes of 88 Valley, Redwood Valley, and Dovedale. Hand held hosing only is permitted on odd and even calendar days corresponding to the house street number. Owners of private wells in the areas subject to rationing are also directed to only water domestic gardens every second day.
Mr Bush-King said the good news is that Golden Bay has had up to 100mm of rain in places and the Anatoki Salmon Farm has come off restrictions. The Upper Motueka and Motueka Plain areas have had the least rain but are in a reasonable position for this time of the year.
“The forecast over the next week is for some further rain so we will be reviewing the situation next Tuesday. Let’s hope the rain comes this side of Christmas.“ Mr Bush-King said.
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