Water restrictions loom in rural areas

Residents in Nelson and Tasman are being asked to conserve water to avoid water restrictions.

Nelson City Council’s water monitoring has detected a drop in river levels to within 10 per cent of the trigger point for rural water restrictions and, if the dry weather persists, restrictions could be in place within a fortnight. The restrictions would affect about 500 households with water supply directly from streams or from bores within 20 metres of a stream.

If water restrictions are triggered, households will have to stop taking water for crop or garden irrigation or for non-essential uses.

People will still be allowed to take water for domestic use and for drinking water for animals.

Despite only rural households being within 10 per cent of the water restriction levels, the NCC encouraged all residents to use water sparingly during the dry weather. In Tasman district, Mapua residents must save water this week if they want to avoid water restrictions.

Tasman District Council (TDC) spokesman Chris Choat said any saving would help, and urged both residents and holidaymakers to conserve water as much as possible.

‘‘The hot temperatures and the need for the influx of holidaymakers wishing to cool down is putting Mapua’s water reservoirs under pressure,’’ he said.

‘‘Water is being taken out of the system faster than the treatment station can supply it at the moment and it needs time to catch up or there could be severe shortages over the next few days.’’ No rain is forecast for the region over the next week.

Residents in Mapua should not water their lawns, fill swimming pools, or use water for other nonessential purposes like washing cars, to help the system recover.

Despite only rural Nelson residents being at risk of restrictions in Nelson, the council encouraged all residents to use water sparingly as the region’s dry weather continued.

Water use can be reduced by fixing dripping taps, only using dishwashers or washing machines with full loads, and installing rainwater collection tanks to reduce reliance on the council’s water supply.