Tasman's Dry Weather Task Force (DWTF) has updated its water restrictions for consent holders across the district.  

The following Water direction notices will apply from Monday 1 April 2024 for consent holders in these Water Management Zones:   

Changes to previous week:  

  • Motupiko – cease take commences
  • Wai-iti Dam Service and Wai-Iti Zone – move to stage 3
  • Waimea Unaffiliated – move to stage 1 

Continued directions: 

  • Tākaka – Water Management Area – FMU – stage 1 (a 20% cut for authorised weekly usage) remains
  • Rainy – cease take trigger hit under consent condition
  • Moutere/Dove/Powley Creek – cease take remains 
  • Moutere Eastern Groundwater – stage 4 (a 65% cut ) remains 
  • Moutere Western Groundwater – stage 2 (a 35% cut) remains  
  • Baton/Wangapeka/ Glenrae/Tadmor/Tapawera – stage 1 remains 
  • Stanley Brook - stage 1 remains 
  • Waimea Affiliated  – no restrictions

As predicted, there had been barely any rain across the district in the last week. Some light drizzle is forecast in parts of the district over the coming week – but there is nothing exceptional. 

Across the district all rivers are at lower flows with aquifers also generally low. 

The Kainui dam at Wai-iti is now about 21% full, down from 26.8 % full last week. 

Staff are continuing to monitor the Kainui dam levels, conserving dam storage where possible to keep the Wai-iti river hydrated for as long as possible. 

Moutere Eastern Deep Groundwater Zone looks to have a small overall rise (0.30 m) over last week, to 29.8m. 

The Moutere Western Groundwater levels have fluctuated over the last week and will remain at Stage 2. 

The Upper Motueka rivers have had small rises due to the rain in the catchment, enabling them to remain at Stage 1 rationing levels. 

However, the Motupiko has not shown any significant increase in river flow over the last week and was likely to hit the cease take level of 150 l/s next week. 

Dry Weather Task Force Convenor Kim Drummond said: “the effects of this dry season are still apparent well into Autumn – the Moutere Deep Groundwater zone remains at a high rationing level and we are getting more instances of creeks and wells going dry.”  

“The Motupiko and Wai-iti zones have now reached critical stages of water management - if the Kainui dam runs dry then the whole Wai-iti Valley will have serious water issues.  

“Therefore, the Dry Weather Task Force is asking for co-operation from water users as we look to preserve the current supply.” 

Mr Drummond said the decision to implement Stage 1 rationing for Waimea unaffiliated users has come after a period of this group benefiting from minimal or no restrictions, thanks to the construction and recent water release of the Waimea Community Dam. 

“Our data indicates that without the dam, unaffiliated users would have been subject to a cease take water direction a month ago – this may prove challenging to these users if the same dry conditions occur once the dam is commissioned.”    

Regarding decisions that come from the Dry Weather Task Force, it is important that Consent holders take heed of the directions and remain familiar with Resource Consent conditions.   

Watering of lawns or decorative gardens is not permitted for any water user situated in water management zones where rationing is in effect.  This excludes users of Council managed reticulated water supply (where alternative restrictions will apply).   

Stock drinking water is not affected by these water restrictions.   

The position will be reviewed at the next meeting of the Dry Weather Taskforce on 2 April 2024.  
   
Get more information on water restrictions here.