The Manuherikia River is at its highest peak flow in five years, due to recent heavy rainfall.

Manuherikia Irrigation Scheme race manager Susan Heal said the river measured at the Alexandra campground was currently running at 53 cumecs (53,000L/sec), whereas this time last year it was more typical of a dry summer flow at 0.9 cumecs.

The last time the river had been this full over summer was back in 2021 when there was flooding on January 2.

Falls Dam near Naseby was also full and it was spilling into the river because of heavy rain in the catchment - usually at this time of year it was running empty and land owners were put on water restrictions.

“To see Falls Dam full in February is amazing,” she said.

Because of the excess water, landowners had stopped irrigating, but that was also causing problems with flooding further down the catchment.

Farmer and Dunstan ward Otago Regional councillor Gary Kelliher said it was definitely a unique season in terms of the amount of water available to landowners.

“It is a very rare year that we are having, and ensures the reliability of our irrigation water.”

The new Ranfurly water treatment plant recently commissioned. Image: supplied

The recent heavy rainfall was also having an impact on water supplies in Patearoa and the Central Otago District Council has asked the community to reduce usage.

New ultraviolet and filtration systems were installed at the Patearoa Water Treatment Plant before Christmas, but heavy rainfall in the Sowburn catchment last weekend has made it difficult to produce clean water.

As a result, the council is relying on stored water supplies until it settles. The new Ranfurly water treatment plant is also now fully up and running.

Council said because the Patearoa supply relies on a surface water source, it is vulnerable to turbidity following rain.

When this occurs, the plant is shut down, treated water is supplied from reservoirs, and a conserve water notice is put in place.

Council is investigating options to provide a resilient and compliant water supply for Patearoa. 

A business case is being developed and council will consider the options within the next four months.

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