Milk tankers carry water to drought-striken Mangawhai

Fonterra tankers are transporting much needed water to thirsty Mangawhai. Photo / Bloomberg

Mangawhai residents' empty water tanks are being filled, thanks in part to the milk of corporate kindness.

Last weekend's rain eased some of the area's water shortage but a collaboration between Kaipara and Whangarei district councils and Fonterra has enabled more much-needed water tanker deliveries to be made.

The Whangarei council's Prescott Rd dam at Ruakaka is being tapped so a Fonterra tanker can deliver in bulk to thirsty Mangawhai, in a mates' rate deal between the three players.

The tankers truck the bulk water to Mangawhai contractors for residential delivery, taking pressure off Kaipara District's precarious Maungaturoto supply.

"By supplementing the availability of local bulk water in Mangawhai, more deliveries can be made per day, as the local trucks will not need to travel to Wellsford or Snells Beach for supplies,'' Kaipara chief executive Graham Sibery said.

"Hopefully this will help more homes in Mangawhai obtain water deliveries as soon as possible.

''The co-operation from Fonterra in re-deploying a tanker and WDC for permitting access to the Ruakaka water supplies has made this possible and is greatly appreciated.''

While the arrangement gets the water to where it's needed, residents still have to order and buy water from their usual delivery contractors.

Meanwhile, Kaipara district staff are keeping a close eye on the stressed Maungaturoto public supply which also feeds the local Fonterra milk product plant's needs.

The council is considering putting restrictions on that supply, similar to those in place for about 2500 Dargaville and Baylys Beach residents since earlier this month.