The Gore District Council is asking Gore residents to conserve water as the level of the Mataura River continues to drop.
The water flow in the river, at Gore, was today down to 18 cubic metres per second (cumecs). When the flow gets below 17cumecs the Council has to instigate water conservation measures. This is a condition of its resource consent from Environment Southland.
3 Waters Asset Manager Matt Bayliss said Gore’s water sources – Cooper’s Well and Jacobstown Well – are in a relatively good position for this time of year courtesy of a wetter than usual December.
“Our existing wells are doing okay. With the new bore at the Cooper’s Well site also performing well, we don’t need to initiate water restrictions as this stage.”
However, if the river and well levels continue to drop the Council may need to move to Level 1, Mr Bayliss warned.
Tips on how to conserve water and what water restrictions mean for home owners, businesses and schools are on our website www.goredc.govt.nz There is a link on the home page.
“There are some really easy ways to conserve water in your home and outside. If everyone does just a little bit, it all adds up,” Mr Bayliss said.