Water Shortage Directions which begin on Monday 26 February will continue to affect several water management zones across the Tasman District.
The Moutere Deep Groundwater, Upper Motueka catchment and the Waimea areas continue to be most affected by the measures put in place. However, the prolonged dry weather has also prompted rationing to be implemented in some areas of Golden Bay.
Dry Weather Task Force Convenor Kim Drummond said although weather forecasts have predicted some rain to fall in the next week – indications are that these amounts are not expected to do enough to alter the current decline in river flow and groundwater levels.
“The issues around water conservation and resource management will not have a quick resolution. Therefore, our ability to effectively manage water use while maintaining the health of the aquifers is something we want to address as best we can.”
Stage 1 Rationing – or a 20% cut for authorised weekly usage - will commence for consent holders in the Tākaka Aquifer, Tākaka Marble Aquifer, Tākaka Surface Water, Stanley Brook, Tapawera, Tadmor and Glen Rae Water Management Zones.
Stage 2 Rationing will continue for the Motupiko and Rainy Water Management Zones.
The Waimea takes continue to be managed in the context of the Waimea Dam not being fully operational. This means the decisions taken through the dry weather task force apply differently to affiliated and non-affiliated permit holders, as per the Tasman Resource Management Plan.
Waimea Unaffiliated B Permits will be subject to Stage 2 Rationing - or a 35% cut for the holders of consents who are in the Hope and Eastern Hills, Lower Confined Aquifer Water Management Zones.
Waimea Unaffiliated A Permits are subject to Stage 3 Rationing which is a 50% cut from authorised weekly usage.
Stage 1 rationing will apply to Waimea Affiliated B Permits for the same area.
Waimea Affiliated A Permits will be subject to Stage 2 rationing. This covers the Waimea Delta, Golden Hills, Waimea Reservoir, Upper Confined Aquifer , Waimea Upper Catchments, and Waimea West Water Management Zones.
The Waimea rationing decisions are subject to Wairoa River Flow changes and can be lifted quickly if Wairoa River flow rises above the respective triggers.
Other zones will remain at the same rationing stages that came into effect on Monday 19 February.
Stage 4 Rationing which is a 65% cut for authorised weekly usage will continue in Moutere Eastern Groundwater, while Moutere Western Groundwater remains at Stage 1.
Stage 2 Rationing will continue for the Motupiko and Rainy Water Management Zones.
A Cease Take for all water takes (but excludes takes from storage) will continue for Dovedale, Powley Creek, Moutere Surface Water Management Zones.
Kim has appealed to water users “to conserve where they can and to not to have the ‘use it or lose it’ approach to water use. We all have a part to play in wise water management.”
The Dry Weather Task Force team will next review the situation on Tuesday 27 February.
In the meantime, it is important that consent holders are familiar with their 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.
These restrictions do not apply to users of Council-managed reticulated water supplies, which are subject to alternative restrictions.