Water squeeze still | Photo Otago Daily Times Online News

Earlier this week, Ranfurry residents were told to boil all water for drinking and food preparation, as the town’s water reservoirs are so scarce that it could compromise the safety of drinking water. I was.

Yesterday, Central Otago District Council water services manager Ian Evans said demand for water in Ranfurly was declining and reservoir levels were stable.

But residents still need to boil water, and even if that were lifted, the long, hot summer showed no signs of ending, so water restrictions will likely continue for some time, Evans said.

Residents of Omakau and Naseby were asked to conserve water wherever possible to avoid the need for drastic restrictions.

The Council sent a water tanker to the Central Otago A&P Show in Omakau today for show-goers to use for their water bottles.

Jeremy Anderson, general manager of Maniototo Irrigation Company, said water supplies were not affected and are actually releasing water into the Taieri River to maintain minimum flow requirements.

The company used 25% to 30% of its storage capacity each year, which is typically charged during the winter.

It was difficult to predict what would happen next. Anderson said the long dry period was not unprecedented in Central Otago.

The company will review the dam’s storage levels in the spring, he said.

According to Niwa’s figures, January was Ranfurry’s fourth driest day since records began in 1897. Only 13mm of rain was recorded.

This week Ranfurry was frustrated with the way messages about water conservation and boiling were delivered. Some residents believed that the communication channels were inadequate.

The Council used local radio and print media, social media, signage and telephone businesses.

Council Community and Engagement Manager Paula Penno says another key tool is the Get Ready email and text system.

It helped keep residents informed by not only sending emails and text messages, but calling on them to provide help in an emergency.

Penno said the Get Ready system did not replace national emergency alerts issued through cell towers, but complemented them by providing more detailed local information. rice field.

Derek Shaw, Civil Defense Emergency Management Advisor, will be at the Central Otago A&P Show today to help you enroll in the system.

Joanna Gilroy, general manager of regulation for the Otago Regional Council, also called on people to conserve water.

The Niwa forecast for the next few weeks calls for drier-than-usual weather in Otago.

The closest ORC monitoring sites to Ranfurly are at Taieri in Kye Burn and Waipiata, she said.

Kye Burn hit its lowest level since April 2020, while Waipiata’s Taieri hit its lowest level since February 2018.

Of the lakes monitored by ORC, 8 sites were above the median and 4 sites were below the median.