Imposed water restrictions needed in Kaitaia, Omapere and Opononi
Kaitaia, Opononi and Omapere residents will notice they have reduced water pressure from early next week as the Far North District Council moves to avert a water crisis in the communities.
Garages and heavy water users will be told what their maximum daily water take is. The council will monitor the reduced levels and is prepared to turn the water off if the limits are exceeded.
The council is also seeking an urgent meeting with the Northland Regional Council to discuss its request to take water from below the levels specified in its resource consents for the Awanui River at Kaitaia, and Waiotemarama Stream at Opononi/Omapere.
Water conservation will be the topic of Te Hiku’s morning talkback programme on Wednesday morning (March 3) and signs and leaflets drawing attention to the water shortage will be distributed in Kaitaia and Opononi and Omapere from this weekend.
“We are acting on our repeated message that water restrictions would be imposed in Kaitaia if the community did not pull together and make voluntary savings,” said Asset and Infrastructure Manager David Penny.
“Unfortunately, despite hose and home irrigation system bans and extensive media coverage, we are nowhere near our target and must now move to put restrictions in place and enforce them. Fines of up to $20,000 can apply when there is a breach of a water supply bylaw, and we will prosecute if necessary.”
For Kaitaia’s water supply, the council is currently taking water from the Awanui River and Okahu Stream. A third water source, the Kauri Dam, has limited capacity for drinking water because of toxic algal blooms. The algae bloom has affected the top six metres of the dam and cannot be treated without poisoning the balance of the dam.
The Waiotemarama Stream is under extreme pressure while the Kaikohe, Kawakawa and Rawene supplies are at medium risk. Water sources at Kerikeri, Paihia and Okaihau are still in reasonable shape.
“It’s not too late for people to heed our message and start cutting down their water use,” Mr Penny said. “When it’s as dry as it is now, every bit helps and we call on householders and businesses to use less water than they have been and help their communities through this very difficult situation.”
Mr Penny said a 50% reduction was achievable. The average reticulated consumer in Kaitaia was using more than 300 litres per person a day. The average use by people with a water tank was about 140 litres per person per day. A 50% reduction per reticulated household would therefore equate to about the same level as the average water tank user, he noted.
“It’s a matter of realising that water is a precious resource and when we have months without any appreciable rain, it becomes even more so. We need to think about how dry it is, how parched the land and how weakend our rivers and do what we can to save water – not just for our houses but also for our environment.
“People in the Far North are of pioneering stock. They are known for pulling together when times are tough and that’s what we’re asking for now. Please work with us to help your communities get through this drought.”