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New Zealand has many sources of good-quality water.
Rain
In New Zealand, some places get too much rain, while others don’t get enough. The Southern Alps are one of the rainiest places in the world. They also cause the west side of the South Island to get a lot of rain. The east side of the country can be very dry and often has droughts.
Snow and ice
In spring and summer, water from melting ice and snow flows into rivers. Some hydroelectric schemes rely on this water to fill storage lakes.
Underground water
Aquifers are layers of underground water that flow through gravel or rock. They are a good source of drinking water.
Lakes, dams and reservoirs
Natural and artificial lakes hold a lot of water. Some of them are used to store water for hydroelectricity schemes.
Rivers
Eight of New Zealand’s 10 biggest rivers are in the South Island.
Sometimes, usually during summer when there is less rain, river levels can get very low, causing water shortages.
If there is too much rain, rivers may flood. Stopbanks have been made beside some rivers to stop them from flooding nearby land and houses.
Managing water
People use water for many things, including drinking, washing, watering crops and making electricity. Regional councils need to manage all these different needs, and limit their damage to the environment.
