Wild weather could extend need to save water

Timaru water supply consumers have been warned the line between getting through the current shortage and getting a boil water notice is ‘‘wafer thin’’.

‘‘Every drop counts,’’ a Timaru District Council spokesperson said yesterday in urging all to keep conserving water after reservoir levels dwindled with the council unable to take water from its river sources because of dirty flood flows from ongoing rain.

‘‘We have managed to continue to deliver good quality drinking water, but our reserves are still very low,’’ the spokesperson said.

‘‘Things are improving slowly, but there is some more wild weather forecast to be on the way ... which is likely to put our sources out of commission again, and we’ll be back to using our reserves.

‘‘Please continue to conserve water where you can.

‘‘Let the car get a bit dirtier, run the dishwasher and washing machine only when you have to, have a shorter shower, turn the tap off when you’re brushing your teeth,’’ the spokesperson pleaded.

‘‘The line between getting through and getting a boil water notice is wafer thin.’’

Strong wind and heavy rain is forecast for the Canterbury High Country today, which has prompted an orange warning from the MetService.

The MetService says heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly.

The warning, for the headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers south of Arthur’s Pass, is valid from 6am-11pm today.

‘‘Expect 120 to 160 millimetres to accumulate near the main divide, and 80 to 110 within 25km east of the main divide.

‘‘Peak rates of 20 to 30mm per hour in possible thunderstorms near the divide. Note, freezing level about 1900 metres.’’

‘‘Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous,’’ it says, adding that wind gusts could also reach 120kph in exposed places from 1am-7pm today.

The MetService is also predicting a wet weekend, but there are no warnings yet.

The council has previously warned that if the Timaru water conservation plea is not heeded, it will be forced to impose a boil water notice for the scheme.

Consumers were first warned of the problem a week ago, and it was upgraded to an ‘‘urgent water conservation notice’’ on Friday.

A council spokesperson said on Sunday the conservation notice is expected to last ‘‘as long as it needs to’’ and it would depend on the weather and quality of rivers.

The spokesperson said council staff are doing their bit to try and fill the reservoir as quickly as they can, but they need the community to help by reducing the amount they are taking out.

‘‘The line between getting through and getting a boil water notice is wafer thin.’’ Timaru District Council spokesperson