A water emergency was declared by the Southland District Council (SDC) around 10am yesterday (31 Dec) in Riverton after the town's water levels reached critically low levels.

SDC's social media page said the coastal town's water treatment plant was running at full capacity but it's reservoir, at 58%, was struggling to recover.

However by 2.30pm conservation measures within the town had had an effect with reduced consumption equaling supply.

SDC water and operations manager Geoff Gray said there was heavy demand in both Riverton and Te Anau due to the very high [seasonal] influx of people into the towns.

However the Riverton community had done a fantastic job slowing down their consumption and the network was now stable, Gray said.

Modifications had been made to the Te Anau network, over the years, and it had improved really well, he said.

Gray said the biggest problem was whether to spend millions on infrastructure, to accommodate for an influx of people for seven days or so.

He said it was a conversation he had had and would be having [with communities] to gauge their expectations.

Gray said he already had a meeting with the Riverton Community Board planned for 16th January.

Riverton is no stranger to its water network being under pressure, with a similar water shortage earlier last year (23 Mar) when river levels were low.

Other towns and localities with planned water upgrades include Manapouri and Eastern Bush, he said.

Gray said he was keeping a close eye on all the districts towns and everything is [currently] really good.

A district wide sprinkler ban imposed on 31 Dec remains in place.