More water restrictions possibly in the pipeline

With little rain tipped for the bone-dry Nelson-Tasman region over the weekend, the possibility has been raised of even tougher water restrictions.

Tasman District Council acting engineering services manager Dwayne Fletcher yesterday told councillors that stage-five restrictions for the parched Waimea Plains could be announced as early as next week. That may mean an 80 per cent cut in allocated supplies for irrigators on the plains.

For urban dwellers on the council’s reticulated supply in Richmond, Hope, Brightwater, Wakefield Mapua, Ruby Bay and their rural extensions, that could translate into a ban on all outdoor water use, while businesses may face a cut of 50 per cent.

Fletcher painted the grim potential picture after the council’s Dry Weather Taskforce convener, Dennis Bush-King, told councillors that 2-3mm of rain might fall over the weekend.

There would also be wind, which would ‘‘dry things up’’.

Bush-King’s comments came after the taskforce on Tuesday decided to hold water restrictions for the Waimea Plains at stage four – a 65 per cent cut in allocated supplies. It also kept urban limits the same for another week.

The first restrictions of the summer began on January 14.

Some people had been putting pumps into streams but the population overall had been good, he said. ‘‘We are saving water.’’

About 12 fines had been issued. However, the 65 per cent cut in allocated supplies on the plains was having a ‘‘significant’’ financial impact on growers. In those areas, the council was letting water permit-holders share their allocations.