Central Otago District Council
Case study for students: Meeting demand for drinking water.
| Water source | Surface water and groundwater |
|---|---|
| Ability to manage supply to meet demand | Poor |
| Forecasting future demand | Forecasting is limited by incomplete data, especially on water use. (Using water-production data in place of water-use data risks overstating demand because it doesn't take account of leaks.) |
| The existing supply is sufficient to meet projected demand, but future restrictions are anticipated. Resource consents for taking surface water may not be renewed if consumption is very high. | |
| Planning to meet future demand | Planning is improving, but commitment to implementation is at an early stage. |
| Supply strategies include looking for new water sources. Significant investment in new or upgraded infrastructure is required. The council has only recently started to focus on making the supply system more efficient. | |
| Demand strategies included education and water restrictions when necessary. The council will progressively introduce water metering and charging. | |
| The council has adopted a new water-supply strategy (2007), which, if implemented, should improve the situation. | |
| Quality of drinking water | Ungraded in 2010. |
| Compliance with 2007 standards requires upgraded infrastructure (treatment plants). |
Water-quality grades: A = completely satisfactory, B = satisfactory, C = marginally satisfactory, D = unsatisfactory, E = unacceptable