The Gore District Council’s 3 Waters team is working overtime to locate the reason for a sudden and significant drawdown of water from Mataura’s reservoir that is jeopardising the town’s water supply.
Level 4 water restrictions were put in place today (Monday 15 January) for Mataura as the town’s reservoir drops to critical levels. The water level reached a low of 45% yesterday afternoon but had recovered to 54% this morning.
3 Waters Asset Manager Matt Bayliss said the reservoir started hemorrhaging water about mid-day on Friday. Until then it was maintaining 85% to 95% capacity.
“The drawdown appears to be constant, continuing through the night, which suggests there’s a major leak somewhere in the network.”
Staff were this morning surveying the entire network to find the leak. Residents are also being asked to check their properties in case the leak is on private land.
Given the volume of water being lost from the system, the location of the leak should be fairly obvious, Mr Bayliss said.
“If anyone has noticed a small lake or a significant flow of water on their property or a neighbour’s land please give us a call.”
They can contact the Council’s customer service team on 2090330.
Residents are being urged to conserve water. The level 4 restrictions were only until the leak is found and fixed, Mr Bayliss said.
Residents can expect low water pressure and discoloured water until the problem is resolved, he said.
Water is presently being pumped from the Waikana Stream to supplement the water supply and the Council is considering initiating emergency pumping from the Mataura River.
“This is a last resort though as we know pumping from the river causes taste and odour issues.”
The Council has stopped commercial water tankers from taking water from the town’s supply.
A further update will be provided at 4.00pm today.