The Gore District Council is asking residents to conserve water as the level of the Mataura River continues to drop.
The water flow in the river, at Gore, was today down to 18 cubic metres per second (cumecs). When the flow gets below 17cumecs the Council has to instigate water conservation measures. This is a condition of its resource consent from Environment Southland.
Three Waters Asset Manager Matt Bayliss said Gore's water sources – Cooper’s Well and Jacobstown Well – were in a relatively good position for this time of year courtesy of a wetter than usual December.
"Our existing wells are doing okay. With the new bore at the Cooper’s Well site also performing well, we don’t need to initiate water restrictions as this stage."
However, if the river and well levels continued to drop the council may need to introduce some restrictions, Mr Bayliss warned.
"There are some really easy ways to conserve water in your home and outside. If everyone does just a little bit, it all adds up," Mr Bayliss said.
