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Water

The Buller District Council maintains and operates domestic water supplies at Little Wanganui Subdivision, Mokihinui, Ngakawau/Hector, South Granity, Waimangaroa, Westport/Carters Beach, Reefton, Inangahua Junction and Punakaiki.

A rural water supply sourced from Omanu Creek provides stock water for the farming community at Cape Foulwind.

Council’s role as water supplier to the region involves operating three water treatment plants and two pumping stations.

Westport Water Supply

The Westport Water Supply is from a creek catchment in the hills behind Westport and is transferred to the reservoirs by a series of underground tunnels and water races. These tunnels combined, are over 1,900 metres in length and were constructed around 1903, which in those days was a remarkable feat. The water is then coagulated for colour removal, treated with lime for pH adjustment and chlorinated.

To receive email notification of public notices regarding the Westport and Carters Beach Water Supply, please click here.

WESTPORT AND CARTERS BEACH WATER SUPPLY WATER RESTRICTION NOTICE

Consumers on the Westport/Carters Beach water supply are requested to restrict the amount of water they use each day.

Due to the sustained loss of water quality at Council’s alternate water supply, water has been unable to be pumped up to the reservoir, leading to a decrease in raw water storage levels.

To enable the raw water reservoirs to recover, consumers are advised to use water for essential purposes only to ensure sufficient pressure is available for all areas of Westport and Carters Beach.  This means using water for drinking, food preparation, hygiene and sanitary purposes only and limiting all extraordinary water usage, including garden irrigation, car washing, water blasting and other high water usage activities.

These water restrictions will stay in place until further notice.

For tips on water conservation, see below.

Council appreciates the co-operation of residents during this time.

Conserving water

Water is essential for many processes in life; a human can survive for only a few days without consuming water. Apart from drinking, we use water in many other ways such as washing clothes, dishes and ourselves.

Water is a valuable resource and demands on its usage are always increasing. Even in places renowned for rain (like the West Coast) it is important that we don’t unnecessarily waste water. Below are a few water conservation hints that can help to save water.

Economise – Be aware of the amount of water you use, and look for ways to use less. For instance, don’t leave the water running when you wash, shave and brush your teeth.

Maintenance – A leaking tap can waste more than 350 litres of water each day. Check your taps and replace worn washers or valve seats as needed. Use low flow shower heads, aerators or flow restrictors. For older toilets, install a toilet dam or displacement device such as a brick or large stone.

Save outdoors – Water your lawn or gardens only when it needs it. Landscape with trees and shrubs that require less water. Water gardens with a handheld hose or watering can rather than leaving a sprinkler unattended.

Water saving tips

Kitchen

• Rinse or peel vegetables in a bowl or sink filled with water instead of running the tap – you could save up to 10 litres every minute
• Wait until you have a full load before starting your dishwasher. When possible, use the eco-setting
• Rinse dishes in a sink filled with water, rather than under a running tap
• Keep a jug of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap water until cold

Bathroom

• Turn off the tap when cleaning your teeth or shaving – you could save 10 litres of water a minute. Brush your teeth in the shower.
• Reduce your shower time to three minutes or less
• Keep baths to a minimum
• Every time you flush the toilet you use 13–20 litres of water, so make sure you only flush when you need to. Or use a half-flush if your toilet is fitted with one.

Laundry

• Wait until you have a full load before starting your washing machine or use the partial load settings

Gardening

• Save water by only watering the garden when it needs it. Use only a hand held hose rather than a sprinkler
• Water at cooler, less windy times of the day, in the morning or evening, to minimise evaporation and water wastage

Outside

• Do not hose down paths and driveways; use a broom instead

Reefton Water Supply

The Reefton Water Supply is pumped from an infiltration gallery adjacent to the Inangahua River. It is then filtered by macrolite media filters and further filtered through cartridge filters. Once filtered, it is then exposed to UV light which disinfects the water, making it safe to drink.

Punakaiki Water Supply

The Punakaiki Water Supply is drawn from a creek in the hills and is filtered and sterilised by UV light.

Water restriction definitions

Essential Use

• Water can be used for drinking, food preparation, hygiene and sanitary purposes only.
• There is a complete ban on any outdoor water use.

Restricted

• Limited use of water for operational and maintenance priorities as required for business sustainability.
• Limited residential outdoor use with hand-held buckets, watering cans, water blasters and low flow devices/attachments.
• No high-use consumption/filling activites or general hard-surface hosing is permitted, including unattended sprinkler devices.

Conservation

• Considerate use of water for all activities, following Council’s water saving tips (below).
• Conservation replaces ‘normal use’ for our current system.

Water supply problem?

If any water problems are encountered or for any queries, please contact:

WestReef Services Ltd – 03 788 9090

Buller District Council – 0800 807 239/03 788 9111 (Westport)

    – 03 732 8821 (Reefton) 03 732 8092 after hours

Plumbosolvency Warning

The Ministry of Health has urged Councils to make residents aware that some plumbing fittings have the potential to allow minute traces metals to accumulate in water standing in the fittings for several hours.

Although the health risk is small, the Ministry of Health recommends that you flush a mugful of water from your drinking water tap each morning before use to remove any metals that may have corroded from the plumbing fittings.

The Ministry of Health recommends this simple precaution to all households, including those on public and private water supplies.