It might be getting wet in central and south Wairarapa, but parts of Tararua District are being denied moisture.
The Tararua District Council has issued an "essential use only" for water for Woodville, warning the water supply from the Manapapa stream is in very low flow.
Council utilities manager Dave Watson said the minimum amount of water is being taken from the stream and topped up with water from the impounded supply to provide the township with water.
"At this stage, a couple of rain showers will not fix the problem in the short term.
"A huge deluge of rain will work the opposite way and cause high turbid water, which we cannot use. Sustained rain is needed to replenish the flows in the stream before we can remove the total hosing ban."
