Water restrictions have been put in place for Gore and Mataura, including limits on watering gardens and a ban on watering grassy areas.

Gore District Council (GDC) have made the decision to move to Level 2 water restrictions following an extended period of high temperatures in the area. 

Restrictions include: 

• Residents can water vegetable gardens, using any method, between 7:00am - 9:00am or 7:00pm - 9:00pm 
• Residents must use a handheld hose or bucket to water flower gardens, trees or shrubs 
• There’s a ban on watering grass areas 

GDC last imposed water restrictions on urban areas in the summer of 2019/2020. 

Yesterday Gore’s Main Street temperature gauge showed 28⁰C, and weather forecasts show little relief in the short term. 

3 Waters project engineer Aaron Green said NIWA’s climate outlook for March-May has a 65% chance of above-average temperatures. 

The water level at Gore’s primary water source, Cooper’s Wells, remains stable. 

However, the council this week started pumping from the Mataura River to supplement the Jacobstown Well, which was at its lowest level since it was commissioned in 2009. 

Green says average daily water use from the well in the last month was significantly up on the same period last year. 

GDC started topping up Mataura’s water supply from the Mataura River earlier this month due to low levels in the Pleura Dam. 

Full details about Level 2 water restrictions are on the Council’s website https://www.goredc.govt.nz/services/3-waters/water-restrictions