Properties connected to the Mount Somers water supply are being reminded they are on water restrictions, as Council starts carting drinking water to the township today to top up the community supply.

Council staff have been closely monitoring the intake source for the water supply at Stoney Creek and levels have been dropping since the start of February. The creek also supplies stockwater and users of that water are encouraged to have alternative supplies in place for their animals.

Tankers of drinking water from Ashburton will be fed into reservoirs at the Mount Somers Water Treatment Plant to maintain a supply for households and properties owners have been reminded the supply is on Level 3 restrictions.

That means normal household use, and watering of lawns and gardens is by hand-held hose only, between 6pm and midnight on assigned days (properties with frontage to Pattons Road on even dates and properties without frontage to Pattons Road on odd dates).

Group Manager Infrastructure and Open Spaces Neil McCann said residents needed to keep using water wisely, given the current and forecast conditions, as more restrictions might be needed if the water supply continued to trend down over the weekend.

“We’re keeping a close eye on the supply and there is enough water going into the reservoirs for reasonable use by households, but we wouldn’t like to see people filling up swimming pools or similar high consumption.”

A new water treatment plant for Mount Somers is under construction and will raise reservoir capacity from 125 to 240 cubic metres when completed in a few months’ time.

Council’s Long Term Plan will also include proposed budget in Year 2 to investigate other intake sources for the township’s water supply.

Mr McCann said the El Nino conditions this year had impacted the intake and the improvements under way and planned would help futureproof the supply to cope with population growth and climate change.

“Smaller community supplies like Mount Somers usually come under pressure during summer when residents use more water to maintain gardens and lawns, so we’re reminding people that restrictions are in place and to use water considerately.”

Water will be tankered to the treatment plant until flows at the intake gallery improve.

Mount Somers residents can sign up for free text alerts and water advisory notices from Council by texting their post code to 4196. Stockwater users can also sign up for free stockwater alerts by texting the word STOCK to 4196.