Residents and farmers are being warned that there could be further restrictions on how much water can be taken from rivers. Photo: RNZ / Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
Taranaki Regional Council is warning local residents and farmers that dry conditions caused by the current La Nina weather pattern as well as climate change could mean further restrictions on how much water can be taken from rivers.
In the past two months the region has seen more than a third less rainfall than usual for this period.
The council was keeping a close eye on rivers and streams in the region, particularly in South Taranaki, resource management director Fred McLay said.
It had urged drinking water suppliers, farmers and other industry, as well as households to keep a watching brief on the situation and be prepared for restrictions if the dry conditions continue or get worse, he added.
Council data for the lowest rainfall sites shows Pātea recorded 61 percent of typical rainfall between 1 November and 31 January, while the monitoring site at Glenn Road in Kaupokonui was even less, with just 45 percent of the usual amount of rain.
Over the last three months, rainfall in the region was 13 percent less than usual in November, 34 percent lower than normal in December and also 34 percent less than usual in January. The dry conditions are similar to those the district experienced in the summer of 2017/2018.
It was crucial to have enough water to protect ecosystems in waterways and more restrictions may need to be put in place if the situation did not improve, McLay said.
"The lack of rain over a prolonged period means waterways are reaching the point where abstraction needs to be carefully managed. If the low rainfall continues then further measures may be needed."
The warning by the Council comes amid the introduction of partial water restrictions by South Taranaki District Council on 18 January. STDC has brought in the odds and evens water use system and it urged its residents to limit non-essential water use wherever possible. New Plymouth District Council has similar restrictions in place, while most pasture irrigation has ceased.
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