Two of three remaining water restrictions removed

Increased rainfall across much of the district means Level 2 water restrictions applied to the Council’s Kawakawa-Moerewa and Kaikohe-Ngawha water supplies can now be reduced, although restrictions will remain for Kaitaia.

Flows in waterways supplying the communities have stabilised above consent levels set by Northland Regional Council and demand for water has also decreased.  The Council is now confident that restrictions protecting Kaikohe’s Wairoro Stream and Kawakawa’s Tirohanga Stream are no longer required.  The Council will therefore remove a Level 2 ban on irrigation systems and sprinklers from today, Friday 19 March.

Meanwhile, flows in the Awanui River, the primary water source for Kaitaia, have not responded so well to rainfall.  While levels have increased following rain, they drop again rapidly during dry weather.

General Manager – Infrastructure and Asset Management, Andy Finch, says that as a result, a Level 2 ban on irrigation systems and sprinklers will remain for properties connected to the Council’s Kaitaia Water Supply for at least another week.

“While there has been some rainfall in Te Hiku, it has not been enough to replenish dry soils or fully recharge the Awanui River.  Weather forecasters are not confident we will see significant rainfall in coming weeks.  For now, we think it best to continue our ban on sprinklers and irrigation systems that rely on the Council’s Kaitaia supply.”

He says the Council will reassess restrictions for Kaitaia next week, but only remove these when levels in the Awanui River have stabilised.