UPDATE 22 JANUARY: Mount Somers water supply has been upgraded to Level 5 water restrictions, which is a conserve water notice.

No non-essential water use is permitted at any time during this restriction. Please limit your use of water to essential domestic, commercial and industrial use only. Essential use includes drinking, washing and cooking but does not include watering plants.

Water tankers carted two loads to the water treatment plant to replenish reservoirs and the conserve water notice will be in place until further notice.

* * *

Declining water levels at the intake to the Mount Somers Water Supply mean that Level 3 water restrictions (hand held hosing) will come into force on the supply on Thursday 11 January 2024.

This means properties which have a frontage to Pattons Road may hose on even dates, and properties which do not have a frontage to Pattons Road may hose on odd dates. Hosing may only be carried out by hand, between 6pm and midnight.

Permitted activities include watering the garden from a hose connected to the scheme supply, and washing vehicles and building exteriors using buckets only.

Activities not permitted during Level 3 restrictions are irrigation using micro-spray and automatic systems, and washing vehicles, building exteriors and paved areas using hoses.

Group Manager Infrastructure and Open Spaces Neil McCann said Council staff had been monitoring levels at the intake and while 20mm of rain at Mt Somers on 5 January lifted the gallery water level, warm weather since then had seen it trend down again.

“More warm weather is forecast in the coming days, and it is expected that level will drop further.”
Consents that allow Council to take water from Woolshed Creek for the community supply also require it to use tools like restrictions during low flows to ensure essential water supply is maintained.

Like many of Council’s smaller water schemes, the Mount Somers supply comes under pressure during summer when residents use more water to maintain gardens and lawns – but it was not designed to accommodate watering of lawns and gardens.

“We ask that you abide by the restrictions so that water is available to everyone and that the supply lasts,” Mr McCann said.

“Using water wisely can be as easy as taking shorter showers or making sure your home has no leaking taps, and is something that should be practised throughout the year.”

Council will advise the Mount Somers community when the restrictions have been lifted.

Water conservation tips can also be found on Council’s website ashburtondc.govt.nz.