MEDIA ADVISORY

1720 hrs September 18 2017

ORC monitoring heavy rainfall in Otago region

Many Otago rivers are starting to drop even though heavy rain is continuing in parts of the Otago region. Metservice expects the rain to ease altogether later this evening.

Today’s rainfall is causing surface flooding in several parts of the Taieri. ORC’s flood management team are monitoring river levels closely. Based on current rainfall and MetService’s latest forecast, there is no concern that the Taieri River or the Silver Stream will overtop their banks.

Drains are running full and it is expected surface flooding will affect roads, including Dukes Road.

The Taieri is high and rising at Outram, while the Kakanui is high at Clifton Falls and dropping.

ORC operations staff are continuing to check drains on the Taieri and for the most part no significant or extended overtopping has been observed. On the Lower Clutha scheme drains and pumps have been checked and there are no problems.

ORC has a 24 hour duty flood manager monitoring river and lake levels. Information on river and lake levels is also available on ORC’s Waterinfo website http://water.orc.govt.nz/ or through the Flow phone on 0800 426 463, or via Twitter alerts.

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