Water water everywhere

Two Rangitı¯kei towns were asked not to waste water because too much of it was falling from the sky.

The Rangitı¯kei District Council has advised Hunterville and Mangaweka residents to conserve water until further notice, as heavy rains overwhelm water treatment plants.

Council operations manager Andrew Van Bussel said too much dirt and runoff were being washed into the Rangitı¯kei River by the week’s heavy rains, so the water treatment plants couldn’t cope.

‘‘We’ve had to slow down or stop the water treatment plants, so we’re not processing as much water as we normally would to meet compliance standards.

‘‘But, the water that is coming through is perfectly safe to drink.’’

He said the towns’ residents were being asked to conserve water so a ‘‘buffer’’ of drinking water could be built up.

The council was bringing in water to Hunterville and would do the same in Mangaweka if it was needed.

The water warning came as a slowmoving ‘‘winter-like’’ weather pattern has battered the lower North Island during the past couple of days. Metservice meteorologist Arno Dyason said the rough weather was likely to continue into the weekend.

The O¯ piki River bridge on State Highway 56, between Tane Rd and Alve Rd, has been closed since 9.25am on Wednesday due to flooding, and roads across Manawatu¯ and Tararua were closed as rough weather brought down slips and trees.

Horizons Regional Council was also monitoring river levels as the weather pattern continued.

The Manawatu¯ River was dropping after it swelled in the initial heavy rains. However, the council was watching the weather closely in case the Moutoa floodgates needed to be opened, said Horizons river management group manager Ramon Strong.

‘‘Any further intense rain around the Ruahines will cause river levels to rise rapidly, with the catchments now very saturated.’’