Households on the Ashburton drinking water scheme might experience periodic low pressure for the next few weeks while contractors upgrade the Ashburton Domain water treatment plant.

The upgrade involves adding UV equipment to the treatment process, as required to comply with national drinking water rules.

The domain plant has been shut down until 17 December and the town is currently being supplied water from treatment plants at Argyle Park, Bridge Street and Tinwald.

Infrastructure Group Manager Neil McCann said the domain water treatment plant usually supplied about 50 per cent of Ashburton’s drinking water.

“Having this plant out means we rely on our other three plants and sometimes at peaks times there is not enough water to meet demand and so water pressure drops.

“Once the domain plant is back up and running in December, the pressure will come back to normal during peak times.”

Mr McCann said council had increased water pressure in the network to counter the drop caused by the loss of the domain plant.

“We also know that the weather is warming and residents are using more water, so now’s a good time to think about using it wisely. If you are watering your lawn, then do it first thing in the morning or last thing at night.”

Council has spent about $10 million upgrading its community water treatment plants with UV disinfection and cartridge filtration to meet the national rules – the domain plant and Dromore are the final ones.

The new Chertsey water treatment plant was fully commissioned last week.