Sixty Otago consent holders will soon be directed to stop taking water for irrigation after failing to notify the council about their water metering status.
It is nearly 18 months since resource management regulations came into force requiring daily recording of water use at the point of take under a permit, for takes of more than 20 litres per second.
In November, the second stage of the regulations comes into force for those with takes of 10-20 litres per second.
The government standards require meters for consented takes, most of which are for irrigation, to assist water management on a regional and national level.
Council environmental services manager Martin King said at a recent regulatory committee meeting water metering installation was still hampered by the lack of installers.
A recent meeting with an installer found some installations had been completed but the council had not received the documentation, he said.
Sixty consent holders had not informed the council of their water metering situation and had been sent warning letters.
''We'll look at those who have not done anything at all and we'll be sending them an abatement notice to cease taking water very soon,'' Mr King said.
Of the 1072 permits for more than 20 litres per second, 54% were compliant and 31% were getting the equipment installed.
There were only 205 consent holders with takes in the 10-20 litres per second category and 20% already had the equipment installed.
Those that had not made progress had been sent a letter warning them of the November deadline, he said.
