No change to current water restrictions
A healthy dose of rain this week hasn’t been enough to relax water restrictions in parts of the Far North, with more dry weather ahead for the district.
A healthy dose of rain this week hasn’t been enough to relax water restrictions in parts of the Far North, with more dry weather ahead for the district.
According to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), no rain is forecast in the area for at least another 10 days, with the dry conditions expected to continue into April.
While the recent rain was welcome, the council’s Water Shortage Management Committee (WSMC) decided on Tuesday (5 March) that all eight Far North water schemes should remain at their current water restriction levels and warned against complacency.
Level 2 water restrictions were applied to four council water schemes last month as a precautionary measure to reduce demand and protect our water sources.
The ban on outdoor sprinklers and irrigation systems affects Kerikeri-Waipapa, Kaikohe-Ngāwhā, Paihia-Ōpua-Waitangi and Ōpononi-Ōmāpere. The same restrictions were applied to Ōmanaia-Rāwene in January and also remain unchanged, bringing the total number of water supplies at Level 2 restrictions to five in the Far North.
Ōkaihau, Kaitāia and Kawakawa-Moerewa water supplies will stay at Level 1 (no restrictions), but customers are asked to always use water sensibly.
Current water restrictions are a response to high summer temperatures in the Far North, a lack of substantial rainfall in the forecast, and several council-operated water treatment plants operating round-the-clock to meet high water consumption.
Large Save Water Now signs are in key locations around Kerikeri, Kaikohe and Paihia to highlight the current water restriction levels. Billboards at Ōpononi and Ōmāpere, displaying the Be Water Wise water glass image, are also raising awareness about Level 2 water restrictions in that area.
The committee continues to monitor the health of water sources and water demand and meets again in two weeks to reassess restriction levels.
You can stay up to date with current water restriction levels by checking our webpage and bewaterwise.org.nz.