Water rationing on the Waimea Plains draws back to stage one

Tasman District Council’s Dry Weather Taskforce Convener, Dennis Bush-King, said that water restrictions for users on the Waimea Plains will go back to Stage 1 with immediate effect from 8 January with all restrictions lifted for permit holders in the Wai-iti and Waiti Dam Service Zones.

“While the recent rain has helped to boost river flow and groundwater levels and rain is forecast, it is still early in the season. So, instead of removing restrictions entirely, we will draw back the restrictions to Stage 1. The Dry Weather Task Force will review the situation next week.”

Stage 1 restrictions in the Waimea catchment mean a 20% cut in consented takes for those permit holders in Reservoir, Waimea West, Upper Confined, Upper Catchments, Delta, Lower Confined, Hope Aquifer and Golden Hills zones.

Watering restrictions are still in place for urban water users in Richmond, Mapua – Ruby Bay, Brightwater, Wakefield, and Hope, and their rural extensions, which include Best Island and Redwood Valley. Only hand-held hosing of gardens every second day is permitted according to your house number – if you have an even house number you may water on the even calendar dates. Similar requirements apply to non-consented water use in the Moutere Domestic area and no surface water takes for domestic use in the affected urban areas are permitted unless authorised by way of Resource Consent.

Mr Bush-King said that any effort to conserve water is still to be encouraged. The response we have had from all water users has been encouraging. Council staff will continue to monitor the situation to ensure compliance with consent conditions and the Water Shortage Direction.

ENDS

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