Water shortages loom in south

BY SAM MCKNIGHT

The threat of water shortages in parts of Southland is looming with aquifer levels continuing to plummet, made worse by diminishing rainfall.

In October The Southland Times reported the aquifers in Northern and Central Southland were falling and latest figures from Environment Southland's show no sign of improvement.

Aquifers at Riversdale, Edendale, Five Rivers, Waipounamu, and the deeper aquifers at Lumsden and North Range have continued to drop to well below the norm.

Council groundwater scientist Karen Wilson said there had been no recovery during the past two months and although the levels had not reached record lows yet, the trend was concerning.

What little rain had been falling in the areas, providing limited aquifer recharge, keeping soils moist and the grass growing, had all but stopped, she said.

Council scientific officer Chris Jenkins said most of region has had only 85 per cent of its annual rainfall.

The Five Rivers area was worst off with 68 per cent of its national average to December 4, which had a probability of happening about once in 30 years, he said.

Five Rivers farmer Trevor Humphries said this year was probably the driest he has seen so early in the season.

While his stock had not yet suffered from the dry spell, Mr Humphries was selling off his store lambs because there would not be enough feed in the summer.

That was a move he had done only once before, about 10 years ago, he said.

The last rainfall in the area was 13mm about 10 days ago. A good 50mm was needed to make a difference, Mr Humphries said.

"We need rain yesterday and another good one in a few days' time.

"It's the wind that's been killing us, too."

Winds that have ripped across the region in the past few months was also stripping pasture of valuable moisture, he said.

"I know I'm sick of it."

Mossburn farmer John Douglas said farms needed a good soaking of rain for at least 24 hours.

"I feel as though we are teetering at the moment, I think we need rain within the next week to 10 days or the situation could become serious." he said.

Waikaia farmer Ken Blatch said he was not worried about the weather just yet but a lack of rain meant paddocks could not be shut off for hay, and swedes were not growing for winter feed.

"There are hundreds of acres of swedes, which aren't growing, they are just sitting there waiting for rain."

Environmental Management director Warren Tuckey said snow melt was still filling rivers but without rain there could be implications for water-take consents.

- © Fairfax NZ News