News
Gore District Council 3 Waters staff will be closely monitoring water consumption levels for Gore over the next few days as people return home from holiday.
Level 3 water restrictions have been in place since mid-December. Continued dry weather and low river levels mean level 4 restrictions are possible in the near future.
3 Waters Asset Manager Matt Bayliss said a recent slight increase in water levels at Cooper’s Wells and a decrease in daily water usage over the Christmas/New Year break were good news.
“In the three weeks before Christmas Gore was using 3850 cubic metres of water a day. We saw it drop to 3400 cubic meters during the break.
“While this doesn’t sound a lot, it does make a difference.”
However, there was still a lot of summer left to get through.
“We are just worried we will see a spike in water usage as people return home from holiday,” Mr Bayliss said.
He was also mindful of the huge influx of people in a few weeks for the 2018 Southern Field Days.
The dry weather has been reflected in exceptionally low river levels. In December the Mataura River water flow at Gore averaged 15.5cumecs.
“Last week it was as low as 12cumecs, however, a bit of rain in the headwaters provided some relief by increasing flow to 49cumecs for a short time.”
The water restrictions do not apply to commercial users, however, the Council will be asking businesses to conserve water wherever possible, Mr Bayliss said.
The Council is classified as a commercial user and has been doing its bit since level 3 restrictions were in place with a ban on washing fleet vehicles.
Parks and Recreation Manager Ian Soper said his team will also be reviewing its operations to identify other areas where water can be conserved.
What do the water restrictions mean?
Level 3: Total ban on unattended hoses, sprinklers and garden irrigation systems. Handheld hosing allowed only between 7.00pm and 9.00pm on alternative days. That is houses with odd street numbers can hose on odd numbered days of the week and vice versa.
Level 4: Total ban on unattended hoses, sprinklers, garden irrigation systems and handheld hoses. Car washing by handheld hose prohibited.
What about the commercial car wash in Hyde Street?
This business has its own water supply, which it must use whenever water restrictions are in place for Gore.