Westport heading for water crisis

The Buller District Council is pumping water to Westport as the South Island town begins to dry up.

Westport is heading for a crisis with possibly only a week's worth of water left. The shortages are due to demand exceeding supply and low reservoir and creek levels.

Buller District Council operations manager Stephen Griffin says water is being taken from alternative places in the creek but without a few days of reasonable rainfall, the town will run out in less than a week. He says the situation is very serious.

Flyers have been placed throughout Westport asking visitors taking part in the Buller marathon to conserve as much water as possible.

- NEWSTALK ZB