Rain Eases Water and Fire Situation

The recent rainfall has resulted in water restrictions being lifted in Inglewood – however they remain in place in Okato.

“We’ll keep an eye on the situation in Okato in the coming week to see if conditions change, but in the meantime the full restrictions remain in place there,” says Manager Water and Wastes Brent Manning.

“But the good news is that the partial restrictions in Inglewood will be lifted from tomorrow (Tuesday).”

Even though rainfall has eased water supply worries in the central and northern parts of the district, it is a good idea to continue to practise water conservation says Mr Manning.

“Getting into the habit of water conservation means that it’s easier to do with less water when dry spells hit – and also, the less water we have to supply, the less we water treat and the more money the council saves in its operations.”

Meanwhile, from midnight on Wednesday (2 April) the urban fire prohibition will be lifted, while rural areas will move from a fire prohibition to a restriction.

“That means that rural people can apply to the council, with at least two days’ notice, for a permit to light a fire outdoors,” says Principle Rural Fire Officer Lester Barnes.

“The rainfall has been mostly around the mountain, with the weekend’s rain levels varying from 70ml in Inglewood to just 6ml in Marco in the eastern hill country.

“A restricted rural fire season will enable us to permit fires in those areas where the fire risk is manageable, particularly as the fire risk is still high in some areas.”

While the restricted rural fire season will not start until midnight on Wednesday, NPDC can issue special seven-day permits in the interim. “All they need to do is phone the council,” says Mr Barnes.

Care should still be exercised with both urban and rural fires, and people should ensure that nuisance to neighbours, such as from smoky fires, is avoided.

Also, any rural resident with an incinerator with a lid and a chimney may use it regardless of the fire season. “A fire restriction or prohibition applies only to open fires, and an enclosed incinerator with a chimney is not an open fire,” says Mr Barnes.