SVIS Messages
20 April 2025
SVIS All of Scheme Offline
Due to excessive rainfall in the catchment the system intake is very dirty with silts etc. To prevent damage to pumps and blockages to offtakes we have shut the system down until the river clears. This will likely be for 2-3 days.
7 April 2025
SVIS All of Scheme Restart
The system is up and running and available for use.
4 April 2025
SVIS Temporary Shutdown
Due to recent rainfall in the system intake catchment. To avoid introducing turbid, muddy water into the network we will be shutting the SVIS down for 72 hours from 4.00 today. We plan to have the system restarted later on Monday afternoon. We will advise on Monday when it is ok to take water once again. Please do not attempt to take water until notified to do so.
31 March 2025
SVIS - Current River Flow
The Wairau River flow is down to 9.5 m3/s. Without rain we expect to be shutting the system down later this week.
21 March 2025
SVIS Start Up
The system is now up and running and water can be taken as required.
19 March 2025
SVIS Start Up
The river flow is high enough for us to start up again however we are going to leave it a day or so to avoid using very silty water while the river is high. We will have it running by the weekend. If this is going to cause a problem please advise us here at Council.
21 March 2025
SVIS Start up
We are getting the system ready for use. This is likely to be later today. We will send out a further update when it is ok to start to take water. Please do not attempt to draw water until this is sent out. Thanks in advance.
14 March 2025
SVIS is Now Off
The mean flow this morning is 7.4 m3/s. The next possible rainfall is Monday. Please make sure you have other means for harvester washdown or spraying.
4 March 2025
SVIS Update
Todays mean river flow is 10.5m3/s. Without further generation or reasonable rainfall, we predict we will still likely be switching off at the end of this week.
20 February 2025
SVIS is Up and Running
SVIS has been started up and is now up to full summer pressure.
19 February 2025
SVIS Start Up
The river flow is high enough for us to start up again however we are going to leave it a day or so to avoid using very silty water while the river is high. We will have it running by the weekend. If this is going to cause a problem please advise us here at Council.
18 February 2025
SVIS is Off
The average Wairau river flow yesterday was 8.0 m3/s. In compliance with the resource consent for the scheme we have shut the system down this morning. However due to the overnight rain we expect today's average will be above 8 and allow us to commence pumping again tomorrow. We will advise when water is available again.
17 February 2025
SVIS – Shutdown
The scheme will be shut down tomorrow morning (Tuesday) due to low river flows. If the forecast rain eventuates on Monday night it may be started again on Wednesday or Thursday.
4 February 2025
River Flow Update
The river flow is down to 10 m3/s this morning. At this rate we are 4 days away from shutting down. There is 30 mm of rain forecast for Tuesday next week at St Arnaud, maybe more in the ranges.
3 February 2025
River Flow Update
The Wairau R flow has dropped to 11.0 m3/s. At the rate of decline we anticipate having to shut SVIS off toward the end of the week. We will advise the day before we will be shutting the system down. There is no rain in the ten day forecast until early next week.
28 January 2025
SVIS - Further Update on River Flow
There was rain in the headwaters over the weekend. Flows peaked yesterday at 18 m3/s. The flow is already back to 16 m3/s. Without more rain the river flow will be back to near the cut off level in a week to ten days.
27 January 2025
SVIS – Wairau River Flow
Last week the river flow dropped to 10 m3/s, noting we are required to shut off if the daily average flow drops below 8. There was some rain in the upper catchment over the weekend which will lift the flow a little. This might enable us to keep operating for a few more days. Without significant rainfall we expect to have to shut off within the next 10 days.
Refer to the Council web site to monitor the river flows on the environmental data page, look at the river daily flow section of the data.
17 January 2025
SVIS - River Flows
The Wairau River daily mean flow is down to 19 m3/s. We are keeping an eye on this. Without rainfall there is risk we will have to shut the system down if river flows drop below 8.0 m3/s. This will be a few weeks away. There will be further notification before that occurs.
1 November 2024
SVIS Booster Pump Now Operating
The booster pumps were put into operation this morning. They may switch off again if demand is low. If this occurs over the long weekend we will not attempt to restart them until next week.
SVIS - Fareham Lane/Guernsey Road
The Fareham Lane pump was put into service this morning. The pump may switch off again if demand is low. If this occurs over the long weekend we will not attempt to restart it until next week.
21 October 2024
SVIS – Priming Will Start Tomorrow, Tues 22 October
We will begin priming the system tomorrow afternoon. It will take a couple of days before the system is up to full pressure.
Once up to pressure (probably Thursday) this would be a good time for those of you who want to top up dams to do so. This will provide us with a consistent demand over the first few days that will help keep the system operating as we get underway.
14 October 2024
SVIS Start Up for 2024
While we have had a few enquiries seeking a start of the system, many of these are for small takes. We have two dams looking to fill but these on their own along with the recent rain is unlikely to provide a demand that will be sustainable. As there has been 10 to 15 mm overnight and further rain forecast at the end of the week we will wait to see what the weather does later this week before making a call to start or not.
11 October 2024
SVIS Start Up
We are reviewing when the scheme needs to be primed and made operational. Please advise if you are ready to commence irrigating or if you have a dam you want to top up. Let us know with an email to stephen.rooney@marlborough.govt.nz
15 May 2024
SVIS Shutdown for the 2024 Season
SVIS shut down for the end of the season.
We will be shutting the system off for the season on Friday 17 May.
1 May 2024
SVIS Continuing into the First Part of May
SVIS will continue to operate for the time being.
We will continue to run SVIS for the next few weeks or until demand drops off.
29 April 2024
SVIS Season Shutdown
Due to the continuing drought we are considering delaying this years shutdown until later in May. If SVIS continues to operate will you use water for irrigation? Please advise by email to stephen.rooney@marlborough.govt.nz
18 April 2024
SVIS is Operational Again
The river has cleared enough to enable us to get the system back and operational. It was up to full pressure at 3.00 pm. If you wish to use water please do so over the next ten days as it is likely the system will be shutdown for winter on April 30.
15 April 2024
SVIS - Restart Following the Rain
We don't expect there will be anyone wanting to irrigate before the end of April. Does anyone want to flush irrigation systems with clean water prior to winter. Or is anyone wanting to fill dams. If the river clears sufficiently and providing there is enough interest (demand) we will consider starting up next week. Please advise on the following email address stephen.rooney@marlborough.govt.nz if you want to use water Note the system will be shutdown for winter at the end of the month.
2 April 2024
SVIS Update
Mean river flow this morning is 7.26m3/s. The system will be switched off once more by 9.00 am today. Updates will be posted as this changes in the week.
1 April 2024
SVIS Update
Mean river flow this morning is 8.49m3/s. Without further rain or Trustpower generation this will give us another 24hrs of run time. We anticipate switching pumps off again Tuesday morning at 9.00 am. Will update with another post Tuesday morning.
30 March 2024
SVIS Operational from 12.00 pm
Due to Trustpower generating and a small amount of rain, the daily mean river flow is currently 9.6m3/s. The system is once again in full operation and ready for use. We anticipate 2-3 days of operation at this stage. We will post updates as necessary.
27 March 2024
SVIS Operational
The system including Hammond Road and Fareham Lane is operational once more. With the mean river flow only just above 8m3/s this will likely only last 24hrs max. We anticipate system will be shutdown again by this time tomorrow. Unless we post otherwise assume the system will be shutdown again by 9.00 am Thursday.
25 March 2024
SVIS is to be Shutdown Again this Morning
The average daily river flow is down below 8.0 m3/s again this morning. The system will be shutdown at about 8.30 am. It will remain off until the daily average flow is back above 8.0 m3/s.
22 March 2024
SVIS Operating Again
The average daily river flow is back above 8.0 m3/s (just) after Trustpower generation at Lake Argyle. This may not last very long so may have to shutdown again over the weekend.
21 March 2024
SVIS Shutdown
The average river flow this morning is below 8.0 m3/s. As required by the resource consent conditions we will be shutting off at 8.30 this morning.
20 March 2024
SVIS Update Wednesday
The average daily river flow will likely be below 8.0 m3/s in the morning. We will have to shut SVIS off. Obviously this will stop the flow of water for irrigation from the system but note also water will not be available for washing down harvesters and other equipment. If water is needed other arrangements will have to be made.
As previously advised due to resource consent conditions Council can no longer make water available from the Blenheim water supply for either irrigation or washdown.
18 March 2024
SVIS Update Monday
There was a little increase in river flow after the rain on Friday evening but the level is back to being just above 8.0 m3/s. With no rain in the ten day forecast we expect to have to shut the scheme off tomorrow or Wednesday.
14 March 2024
SVIS Update Thursday
The daily average flow this morning is 9.97m3/s. The actual flow is currently 9.72 m3/s. Without any rainfall or generation, we will likely be looking at shutting system down within the next few days. As SVIS is approaching shutdown and will not be available, please make sure you have stored water or other means for harvester washdown or spraying. Unless this changes next update will be Friday 15 March.
13 March 2024
SVIS Update Wednesday
The daily average flow this morning is 10.3m3/s. The actual flow is currently 10.1 m3/s. Without any rainfall or generation, we will likely be looking at shutting system down within the next few days. As SVIS is approaching shutdown and will not be available, please make sure you have stored water or other means for harvester washdown or spraying. Unless this changes next update will be Thursday 14 March.
11 March 2024
SVIS Update Monday
The daily average flow this morning is 11.6m3/s. The actual flow is currently 10.7 m3/s. Without any rainfall or generation, we will likely be looking at shutting system down within the next few days. Unless this changes next update will be Wednesday 13 March.
8 March 2024
SVIS Update Friday
The daily average flow this morning is 19.5m3/s. The flow is currently 15.1 m3/s. This will keep the system operating until early next week. We will keep you posted with another update on Monday .
6 March 2024
SVIS Update Wednesday
“With decent rainfall in the catchment. The daily average flow this morning is 14.1m3/s. The flow is currently 21.8 m3/s and still possibly rising slowly. This is likely to keep us operating until maybe early next week. We will keep you posted with updates”.
4 March 2024
SVIS Monday Update
We've been saved by the rain for now. The daily average flow this morning was 8.4 m3/s. The flow is now 10 m3/s and still rising slowly. This is likely to keep us operating for a few days at least. We will keep you posted with updates later in the week.
1 March 2024
SVIS Shut Off Update
As a result of a small rainfall event in the headwaters on Monday Trustpower's generation river levels have been steady at an average of 11.0 m3/s over the last two days. We are now unlikely to have to consider shutting off before Monday. There is rainfall forecast for Monday morning so we might be operating for a bit longer yet.
29 February 2024
SVIS Thursday Shut Off Update
There has been no further appreciable change to the river flow rate of reduction. We are expecting to have to have shut off over the weekend. WE are likely to be able to provide which day tomorrow morning.
28 February 2024
SVIS Shut Off Update
There has been a lift in river flows as a result of rainfall in the head waters over the weekend and the tributaries are rising slightly now from rain late yesterday. We will see a small benefit from that at the Tuamarina recorder tomorrow morning. At this rate we expect the shut off might be necessary in 3 to 6 days. We'll provide a further update tomorrow morning.
26 February 2024
Imminent Shutdown of Scheme
The average daily Wairau River flow this morning is just above 9.0 m3/s. We expect to have to shut the system down in the next couple of days when it reaches a daily average of 8.0 m3/s. There is no rainfall forecast until next week. Customers can expect the water will be switched of before the end of the week.
23 February 2024
Potential SVIS Shutdown Next Week
We are anticipating having to shut SVIS down early next week unless there is rainfall in the catchment over the weekend that will increase river flows. The environmental graph on the website maybe inaccurate has been showing the flow steady at around 14 m3 per second for most of this week. This is unusual as there has been no rain to create this. The flow will be manually assessed this afternoon. The result of this is likely to find the flow is lower than being recorded.
12 February 2024
SVIS Riverflow Update
The Wairau River average flow is down to 19 m3/s. It is receding at a flow of 1.0 m3/s per day. We will have to commence reductions in the water take when it reaches 12 m3/s and full shutoff at 8 m3/s. Keep an eye on the flow rates on the web site to monitor the on going flows. We will update regularly through antenno also.
22 January 2024
SVIS – River Flow Update
There's been some rain in the headwaters over the last few days. The river flow is currently 35 m3/s. It's unlikely an SVIS shutoff will be required for at least 3 to 4 weeks. Of course there might be more rain before that.
15 January 2024
SVIS 2024 Wairau River Flows
The river flow got as low as 18 m3 per second overnight. Without rainfall it will drop as much as 1m3/s each day. We are required to stop taking water for SVIS if the flow reaches 8.0 m3/s. We will provide regular updates in the coming weeks. You can view this information for yourself at the following: https://hydro.marlborough.govt.nz/environmental
