The amount of water in Seddon's Haldon Dam, which was found to be at increased risk of breaching due to quake damage, has nearly halved after about five days of draining.
The Marlborough District Council today said contractors expected to have reduced the dam's water level by more than four metres below its original level.
Council assets and services manager Mark Wheeler said this afternoon the dam had about 60 per cent less water in it than when last week's earthquakes hit the area.
"We've calculated that even if it failed now, the flood volume would be only about half what it was a few days ago.''
"Residents can be reassured that the risk of flooding had come right down, although there is never any absolute guarantee with works on this scale. Of course emergency services would respond should there be any need,'' he said.
