The council has imposed a ban on sprinklers and automatic irrigation. Photo: 123RF
Despite the West Coast's reputation as one of the country's wettest spots, parts of the region are now grappling with a potential drought.
The Grey District Council has imposed bans on sprinklers and automatic irrigation, and people are being asked to restrict water use, with the council warning it may have to introduce rolling water stoppages.
Grey District Mayor Tania Gibson said at this stage the message seemed to be getting through.
Although it rained last week it was not substantial enough to do more than wet the ground a bit and the most rain the district had seen recently was just before Christmas, she said.
NIWA is not calling it a drought yet because of a few showery days, Gibson said.
"But it's getting dire for like the agriculture industry, like the farming industry's starting to suffer and we are having these problems with the water and we are putting contingencies in place.
"We are actually installing three new water reservoirs that we've been working on last year and this year and some new bores, so this would actually mitigate this problem."
Reports are that it has not been this dry in the Grey District for about 25 years with no rain forecast in the immediate future, she said.
Fire permits suspended across Grey District
Fire and Emergency is suspending all fire permits the Grey District due to the current water shortage in the area.
No new permits will be issued across the Grey District until there have been significant downpours.
West Coast district manager Myles Taylor said fighting vegetation fires used large volumes of water and would place more pressure on already depleted water supplies.
A further two water tankers have been moved to Greymouth.
Fire and Emergency will decide on whether it will move the district into a prohibited fire season, based on long-term weather forecasts.
