Dam level drops

Palmerston North’s supply of stored water has dropped to its lowest level this summer. City council threewaters groupmanager Mike Monaghan said the Turitea dam level had dropped to 3.4 metres belowthe spillway, sowas only twothirds full. Levels had dropped during ‘‘an extremely dry’’ autumn. There had only been 88.2mm of rain during March and April, compared to 145.6mm in the same period last year. Monaghan said the councilwas currently reducing demand on storedwater by increasing production from the city’s bores. MetServicewas not forecasting any significant rain before next weekend.