Water restrictions ease in Nelson

Water restrictions have eased in Nelson as the current water supply is at higher levels than anticipated.

Nelson City Council introduced stage 1 water restrictions on 1 December and moved into stage 2 restrictions on 20 December, given the predictions for a long, hot, dry summer.

Group infrastructure manager Alec Louverdis said in previous years a similar forecast led to diminishing levels of water and required heavy measures to ensure adequate supply.

Thanks to some wet weather and efforts of residents to conserve water, the restrictions could be lifted.

Louverdis said while water levels were currently at a healthy level, that could change and restrictions could be re-introduced if required.

Nelson receives its water from three sources. A direct weir on the south branch of the Maitai River, the Maitai dam with an intake on the north branch of the Maitai River and a low level dam with an intake on the Roding River.

During the summer months the council's resource consent set river flow limits on the Roding River, which generally meant a halt on taking water from that source, increasing the reliance on the water stored in the Maitai Dam, Louverdis said.