Carterton residents may need to let the yellow mellow while the council waits for floodwaters to subside at the town’s wastewater treatment plant.
After days of heavy rain this week, surface water remains in pockets across the district.
With the ground saturated from the winter conditions, water is taking longer to disperse at the wastewater treatment plant in Dalefield.
For health and safety reasons, the council is unable to pump the water out to assess the situation, so residents are being asked to limit their water use in the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry.
“This includes baths and showers, toilets, and washing clothing,” a Carterton District Council spokesperson said.
Carterton will be familiar with council requests to limit water use after the wastewater network became inundated in February due to ex-cyclone Dovi.
This time around is a different situation.
The wastewater plant is working as usual, but the floodwaters create a risk if something were to happen.
“With the surface flooding not yet dissipating from our wastewater treatment plant, we are asking our residents to limit water use where possible.
“We understand this is inconvenient and disappointing to make this request to residents again.
“But it is important for health and safety of our team that we need to wait for the groundwater to dissipate before we can go in and assess the situation.
“An update on the situation will be given on Monday.”
In February, due to the wastewater network being inundated, portaloos were provided at South End Park, Moreton Rd Reserve, and Memorial Square, and Carrington Park.
There was no requirement for this at this stage, the spokesperson said.
“We’re just asking for people to be mindful with their water use while we wait for some dry weather so we can assess the situation.
“If residents have problems following this week’s bad weather, contact us directly to lodge a service request.”
– NZLDR
Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
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