By ANNE-MARIE EMERSON
TOTAL water restrictions will remain in place in South Taranaki for now.
A ban on all automated sprinkler and irrigation systems was put in place mid-November, as an unusually dry spring saw the region's streams, rivers and bores run low.
Although a dump of rain fell over Taranaki
in the weekend, once again South Taranaki missed out.
Only 5mm fell in Hawera, while Stratford had 44mm.
South Taranaki District Council's engineering manager, Neil McCann, said he hoped to be able to ease the ban next week but that depended on the weather.
He said cooler weather with some showers were forecast for the next week, although that still might not be enough.
"Certainly not enough to replenish our soil, which currently has a severe moisture deficit of more than 130mm.
"At this time of year you would expect to see a deficit somewhere in the vicinity of 70-85mm."
Total water restrictions were introduced in Wanganui in late January. They were lifted in mid-February. Wanganui still has partial water restrictions.
