High silt levels in the Waitangi River are playing havoc with Paihia's water treatment system
High silt levels in the Waitangi River are playing havoc with Paihia's water treatment system
People living in Paihia, Opua and Haruru Falls are being urged to use water only for essential purposes such as drinking and cooking - or the water supply could run dry within the next few hours.
Far North civil defence duty controller Ken Ross said the latest consumption figures (1pm today) showed no reduction in water use, despite requests to conserve water.
"As a result, levels in the reservoirs are continuing to fall rapidly and a point has been reached at which the reservoirs will survive for only around another two hours. We are seriously concerned that people may be stockpiling water which is only hastening the point in time in which the supply will run out altogether," he said.
If water was used only for essential purposes, and not stockpiled, sufficient water would be available to keep up a minimal supply.
"We are producing a limited supply at the treatment station, but it is not enough to begin restocking the reservoirs while the demand for water remains at the current level ... Have a cup of tea by all means, but please try to save water by not doing the washing up, only flushing the toilet when absolutely necessary, not using hoses for any purpose, delaying washing clothes and deferring baths and showers in the short term. Every little bit will help until the crisis is resolved," he said.
