Residents on the Ōamaru Water Supply are being urged to keep reducing their water use, with a conserve water notice remaining in place for communities from Ōamaru North to Moeraki, including Weston, Enfield, Kakanui, Maheno, Herbert and Hampden.

The notice was issued after last week’s significant weather event affected the supply network.

High turbidity during the event meant water could not be pumped from the water race that feeds the supply, leaving the stored water in Ardgowan Dam as the only available source.

By the time the notice was issued, only two days of usable water remained.

Pumping from the race has since resumed to refill the dam, despite continued turbidity, and the treatment plant has been running at a reduced rate so safe, compliant drinking water can keep flowing without placing unnecessary pressure on the plant.

To reduce demand, the Hamnak pipeline, which supplies Kakanui, Maheno, Herbert, Hampden, Waianakarua and Moeraki, was turned off on Thursday.

Customers on this part of the network have restricted supplies and are required to keep three days of water on hand. The pipeline was restarted on Saturday after two days off, a step described as necessary to protect the wider water supply.

Turbidity has now stabilised and pumping is under way at a higher rate to help refill the dam. If recovery continues, the conserve water notice is expected to be lifted late this week or early next week.

However, household and business water use has not dropped significantly. Most of the recovery so far has come from temporarily turning off the Hamnak pipeline, with yesterday’s use similar to the same time last week before the notice was issued.