Towns’ water issues remain but supplies are improving

Timaru and Oamaru’s water woes remain but residents’ water conservation over the weekend has meant an improvement for supplies in both districts.

The Timaru District Council warned users last Monday that there was only enough treatable water in the reservoir for four days and all those on town supply faced a ‘‘boil water notice’’ if water conservation measures were not instituted.

The Waitaki District Council issued full water restrictions for the town and other parts of the district on Friday.

Recent heavy rain has been to blame for the restrictions with Timaru relying on a backup reservoir at Claremont which has been drawing from the backup supply from the Opihi River since high flows in the Pareora River catchment stirred up silt.

Timaru District Council spokesman Stephen Doran said the notice was expected to be lifted by the middle of this week but people are still being asked to conserve water.

He said the reservoir was at 45 per cent yesterday – its highest level in 12 days.

‘‘The level of turbidity at the Pareora [River] continues to decline,’’ Doran said.

‘‘It would be really helpful if people continue to conserve water for a few days yet just to help us get through this final period.’’

Doran said Timaru has two ‘‘very high quality’’ water sources, that most of the time, don’t require filtration.

‘‘Situations such as this are uncommon,’’ he said.

‘‘Putting a filtration plant in place would involve significant investment, but it is something we’re investigating as a mitigation against the frequency of more intense weather we are facing.’’

The Waitaki District Council issued a conserve water notice last Wednesday, but a spokeswoman said not enough conservation had taken place and the reservoir was running ‘‘dangerously’’ low.

Demand had been exceeding supply and the reservoir could have run dry within a day or two, the council said. The problem had occurred after recent rain had meant water entering the treatment plant was three times dirtier than normal.

A council statement said the situation was looking ‘‘a little better’’ heading into the fourth day of restrictions yesterday.

Conservation is still required for the next couple of days for the situation to lift, the statement said.