Who is leaving on the tap in Tapanui?
High water use in the West Otago town in the early hours some days is mystifying the Clutha District Council.
At the West Otago Community Board meeting in Tapanui yesterday, council district assets manager Jules Witt said there was ''strange water usage'' between 2am and 4am some days.
''It doesn't happen every night. It's not regular, but it's a lot of water - 17 cubic litres.''
Mr Witt said it was an unusual spike in Tapanui's water use.
Board members agreed the water use looked ''quite dodgy''.
West Otago ward councillor Jeff McKenzie asked Mr Witt if the council had considered using temporary water meters to find the culprit.
Council staff had considered using water meters, but in some cases this was a very expensive exercise where there was no ready access to pipes, Mr Witt said.
''We just want to try and understand it ... it's just strange that it is that time of night.''
The mysterious water use will be investigated by the council, and board members were asked to keep a sharp eye out for any suspicious water-related activity in Tapanui.
