Ruapehu District Council is inviting the Raetihi community to a public hui to discuss the township’s water supply, potential summer restrictions, and how Council and the community can work together to ensure a secure and sustainable supply for the future.
The hui will be held at 6pm on Wednesday 2 December at the Royal Theatre, 23 Seddon Street, Raetihi.
Mayor Weston Kirton said Council is sharing information early so residents and businesses understand the challenges and can prepare together.
“Raetihi needs a reliable supply of safe drinking water, and a healthy Mākōtuku River to sustain it. Looking after both is a responsibility Council and the community share,” he said.
“We are not introducing water restrictions at this time. This is about explaining what may trigger them, hearing people’s questions and concerns, and understanding what we can all do to help.”
WHY RESTRICTIONS MAY BE NEEDED
Raetihi draws its drinking water from the Mākōtuku River, where flows can fall significantly during prolonged dry weather, just as community demand typically increases.
Council’s resource consent requires it to reduce the amount of water taken when river flows reach a specified low level, helping protect the river’s health and mauri.
Longer dry periods and increasing drought risk from the forecast El Niño weather event this summer are expected to place further pressure on the supply.
“Restrictions are driven by river conditions and the limits on how much water we can take, rather than simply by the arrival of summer,” Mayor Kirton said.
“When flows fall, we need to manage demand carefully so there is enough water for drinking, sanitation, firefighting and other essential needs.”
Council’s staged Water Alert Levels provide for progressively stronger measures as conditions worsen.
These range from limiting sprinkler hours to banning sprinklers and suspending contractor water takes. If low flows persist and stored water continues to decline, all outdoor water use may be prohibited.
The hui will explain these levels, what triggers them, and what each would mean for households and businesses.
IMPROVING RESILIENCE AND REDUCING WATER LOSS
Council’s work to strengthen the supply includes a new treatment plant commissioned in 2018 and a larger treated water reservoir installed in 2022, increasing storage capacity by almost 80 percent.
Ongoing work includes detecting leaks, renewing watermains, monitoring the network and reducing water losses. Council is also investigating alternative water sources, although these are longer-term options that are unlikely to provide relief this summer.
“Until the new two-council Water-Services Council Controlled Organisation takes over water services from July next year Council has a responsibility to maintain the network and reduce losses. Residents and businesses can help by fixing leaks, avoiding unnecessary water use and following restrictions if they become necessary,” Mayor Kirton said.
“Working together now will help put us in a better position to manage the expected dry period this summer and ensure we have a secure and sustainable water supply.”
I encourage everyone dependent on the Raetihi water supply to attend the hui to hear the latest information, ask questions and discuss concerns with Council staff,” he said.
For hui enquiries please contact Libby Ogle on 06 385 8364.
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