Irrigation wells may be no better next season

Press, 1 June 1985, Page 3

Irrigation wells may be no better next season

Irrigation users must not rely on their wells performing any better next season than they did last year, the North Canterbury Catchment Board was told yesterday. A , board staff member, Mr John Talbot, said that the biannual groundwater level survey of about 650 bores had been done in the last week of April. 1 “Generally, levels are lower than for the similar period last year, and many shallow wells which are used for both domestic and irrigation purposes are unusable." . Unusable in some cases meant that the wells were dry. Many deep wells were not producing the yields of several seasons ago. Some of the areas most affected were Oxford, Fernside, Yaldhurst, West Melton, Kirwee, and Greendale. In the first two areas wells were shallow and even a

small decline in levels would affect water yields, he said. “In these areas, levels are two to three metres lower at present than this time last year, and some wells are unusable.” Mr Talbot said that although groundwater levels were low, the lowest levels of the early 1970 s had hot yet been surpassed. “It is important for, particularly, irrigation users to accept that their present well will not support the level of irrigation that was achieved before the current drought period.” Mr Talbot said it appeared that the 1985 winter would be fairly dry and even if any substantial rain fell the groundwater levels would not be recharged to long-term average levels. Mr I. G. C. Kerr, a board member, said the board had a vital role in passing the knowledge on to those it would affect most.

“There is still a lack of knowledge on groundwater and I feel it is vital for them to know,” he said. Mr Talbot said the staff were looking at the possibility of putting out an information sheet for holders of water rights. Mr G. McFadden said he would support this provided it was done promptly. Farmers were still planning land use for next year and this information could be' useful, he said. Emergency Catchment Board staff are looking into procedures for handling emergency discharges of raw sewage, a staff member, Mr Bob Ayrey, told the board. This arose from the recent strike by Christchurch Drainage Board staff and „ the possibility of a raw sewage discharge into the Estuary. ? Mr J. A. J. McMillan, who

is also a member of the Drainage Board, said that as a passive user of the Estuary he would like any discharge kept to a minimum. The Drainage Board was taking the matter very seriously and realised that it did not have the right to discharge effluent into the Estuary, he said. ■ ■ Rakaia order The board will not appeal against the decision made by the Planning Tribunal on the Rakaia Draft Conservation Order. . ... Mr E. R. Wood, the board’s, chief executive officer, said he had discussed the matter with the board’s solicitors and could see no ground for an appeal. An appeal could be made only on legal grounds in this case, he said.

Tenders The. board has accepted a tender of $61,370 for .a Ipwer', ■ Rakaia River ■' protection scheme, ... “•pJiiqdrs, Jj/werd.’’ ' received Tor ' the ” contract' ’ which covers about 1500 metres of anchored willow protection on the south bank of the Rakaia River, east of State highway'l; - . . ■ • The tenders ranged between $34,560 and $148,596? , Mr iR. Ei -Reid;; the rivers, and drainageiengineer. the wide'range Of‘theTtSh-?' ders was to ;be expected because of the. type of work required. The higher tenders included the cost of hiring a helicopter to do. some of the. work. The contract was awarded to Ron Duff and John Hood, of Methven.