Water users faced with restrictions

Further water restrictions are being imposed in Tasman as the dry spell causes record low groundwater levels.

Stage one restrictions will commence on Christmas Day for permit holders in the Wai-iti and Waiiti DamService zones. Existing restrictions for users on the Waimea Plains will remain unchanged at stage two for another week.

Restrictions are still in place for urban water users in Richmond, Mapua – Ruby Bay, Brightwater, Wakefield, and Hope, and their rural extensions, which include Best Island and Redwood Valley.

Only hand-held hosing of gardens every second day is permitted, alternating between odd and evennumbered homes.

Similar requirements apply to non-consented water use in the Moutere domestic area and no surface water takes for domestic use in the affected urban areas are permitted unless authorised by a resource consent.

‘‘While the Kainui Damis releasing water into the Wai-iti, this has started very early on in the season and to optimise the use of the water, we need to try and ramp down demand,’’ Tasman District Council’s Dry Weather Taskforce Convener, Dennis Bush- King said.

Bush-King said a move to stage three had been considered but would have been ‘‘a brave call’’, given the Roding River contributed an extra 80 litres per second over the weekend.

‘‘We are also watching the Motupiko, which is 70 litres per second away from stage one restrictions, and groundwater levels in the Moutere Western and Hau zones are at their lowest levels on record for this time of year.’’

Rural fire risk also remained very high in parts of the district.

The recent dry weather has meant rural water users in Nelson may also face restrictions. Monitoring would continue but without significant rain, restrictions could be necessary within the next two weeks.