Kaikohe water supply at risk

Taps could run dry in Kaikohe unless residents immediately reduce water consumption.

The council is asking all Kaikohe households and businesses to reduce consumption immediately or risk the town’s supply reservoirs running out of treated water tonight (Friday 27 March).

The call comes after the river supplying the Taraire Hills Water Treatment Plant became heavily congested by silt and debris following yesterday’s severe rainstorm. This has clogged the treatment plant intake and filtration systems.

Staff are clearing the blocked intake and filters but cannot yet treat water at normal volumes. As a result, all customers connected to the council’s Kaikohe water supply are being urged to limit water use to essential needs only for the next two days.

The plea comes despite major consumers, such as the Northland Region Corrections Facility at Ngāwhā, reducing their consumption after the council issued a conservation call this morning.

Council staff say that if levels in reservoirs continue to fall, there is a real possibility that water will stop flowing in Kaikohe taps.