Too much above, not enough below

SONIA GERKEN/The Southland Times

WATER SHORTAGE? Avid Gore gardener Pauline Allen cannot believe the Gore District Council's decision to tighten water restrictions given recent rainfall.

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it may have been cold and wet lately but the Gore District Council's wells have hit critically low levels, forcing it to tighten water restrictions for urban residents.

Water restrictions were yesterday upgraded for Gore and Mataura to ban the use of sprinklers and micro-watering systems.

Only hand-held hose watering was allowed, on alternate days. The council has also asked residents to ensure they conserve water where possible, such as having shorter showers or putting a brick in the toilet cistern.

The tighter restrictions have left one Gore gardener gobsmacked. Pauline Allen said she could not understand why the council cannot ensure sufficient water for urban residents.

"It beggars belief," she said.

Utilities manager Ross Haslemore defended the move and said he made no apologies.

While water usage was not high, the bores were not recharging enough because of the Mataura River's low flow. Last week it had dropped to 11.9 cumecs and was presently at 13 cumecs.

However, there was no need for panic, Mr Haslemore said.

"This is just a precaution.

"We are trying to be proactive and manage the resources we've got."

He envisaged the sprinkler ban would be short term.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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