Otago Regional Council is calling on irrigators to conserve water, with little rain predicted in the long-term weather forecast.
Otago Regional Council says irrigators need to be mindful of their consent conditions and responsibilities. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
Some areas of Otago are becoming increasingly dry and the council says irrigators need to be mindful of their consent conditions and responsibilities.
Council environmental services manager Martin King said last summer the council avoided the need to stop water takes after voluntary water rostering.
He said farmers needed to again actively monitor how much they were taking.
The council has increased water monitoring so that its live data is accurate.
Low river levels can cause aquatic life to become stressed or die, as well as raising river temperatures and encouraging algal growth.