Water supply situation update
For Upper Hutt, Lower Hutt, Porirua and Wellington
As at 23 February 2012
The water supply situation remains OK. Rainfall on 22-23 February has been helpful. However, settled weather is forecast for much of the next fortnight, so we advise continued care with water use. Find water saving tips here.
The current level of water use does not pose an immediate supply problem. Rainfall in the headwaters of the Hutt River (the largest source of water supply for our area) remains below the average level for February. However, 37mm of rain in the Hutt catchment in the last 24 hours (to 8am on 23 February) has boosted the river's flow rate and this improvement should remain for much of the coming week. Rainfall has also raised the flows in the Wainuiomata and Orongorongo Rivers. The water level in the Hutt aquifer is holding up well.
We encourage all water users to help to keep water use at its present level. If water use increases over the coming weeks, we may still need to reduce the minimum downstream flow in the Hutt River at Kaitoke below 600 litres per second.
This situation update is a summary that combines the availability of water for supply and the level of water use compared with previous summers. We have one water storage lake at Te Marua empty for upgrading.
Climate outlook
NIWA's climate outlook, to the end of April 2012, indicates that average rainfall and river flows are likely (50% probability of average rainfall and 40% probability of average river flows. See www.niwa.co.nz/seasonal-climate-outlook-february-april-2012).
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Water situation this week is: |
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Water use over the last 7 days: |
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How are our rivers and aquifer doing? |
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Key message…. |
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