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 8 April 2024 for consent holders in these Water Management Zones:    

Changes to previous week:   

Tākaka – Water Management Area – FMU – moves to stage 2 (a 35% cut for authorised weekly usage)  

Continued directions:  

  • Motupiko – cease take continues 
  • Wai-iti Dam Service and Wai-Iti Zone –  stage 3 remains
  • Rainy – cease take continues 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 Unaffiliated –stage 1 remains
  • Waimea Affiliated – no restrictions  

Small amounts of rain have fallen this week and the district continues to be very dry with all river flows and soil moisture at low levels, despite some minor increases throughout the week. 

While this is most welcome at a time of severe dry weather, it is not anticipated to bring a ‘drought breaker’ level of relief. 

Decreasing levels of storage at the Cobb Dam has begun to affect the consented water takes for those in the Tākaka  water management area.  

Both Moutere Eastern Deep and the Western Groundwater Zones look to have remained steady on the previous week and therefore no further change to restrictions have been implemented. 

The Wai-Iti zones remain a major concern and the Kainui dam is about 16.2% full, down from 21 % full last week.  

This has justified the need to remain at Stage 3. 

Waimea Dam augmentation continued over the weekend.  The water releases from the Waimea Dam have allowed the water users on the plains, including the urban users, to have unrestricted water use. 

 Acting Dry Weather Task Force Convenor Rob Smith said while the overall level of rationing was largely unchanged from the previous week, the shift to Stage 2 for Tākaka and the ongoing  high rationing for Wai-Iti and Moutere Deep Groundwater zones meant a concerted effort was required from water users to keep within water direction limits. 

“We are moving closer to the commissioning of the Waimea Dam and with the change of season to autumn, we are beginning to see a small increase in rainfall. 

“However, it must be acknowledged there are still many areas within Tasman that are struggling from the dry weather effects.  

“A significant increase in rainfall can alleviate the current situation, but in more practical terms we asking all water users to comply with their consent conditions and manage water appropriately.” 

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 9 April 2024.   
     
Get more information on current restrictions here.