Livestock owners are being urged to take extra measures to keep their animals cool and hydrated as Rarotonga continues to grapple with dry weather conditions.

Ministry of Agriculture secretary Temarama Anguna-Kamana has emphasised the importance of providing daily water to livestock during the current dry spell

The call comes amidst advice from Rarotonga water authority To Tatou Vai (TTV) urging public to reduce and use water wisely.

Speaking to Cook Islands News, Anguna-Kamana says she believes farmers and livestock owners are prepared for the dry spell, having faced similar situations in the past.

“They are aware of the need to conserve water whilst also ensuring that their livestock has access to water,” Anguna-Kamana said.

She particularly advised livestock owners, especially those with cattle, to ensure their animals have access to at least 20 litres of water daily to prevent distress.

“Please consider the welfare of your animals and provide shade as well as water in these extremely dry conditions.”

Last week, To Tatou Vai issued a statement highlighting the impact of the dry weather on catchment stream flow levels, which feed into its water network.

It said due to the dry weather, catchment stream flow levels that feed into its water network are continuing to drop significantly. The lack of water in the network is causing outages for properties inland and on elevated ground, the water authority explained.

“There are still people out in the community that are using water wastefully,” TTV said.

“The long-term weather outlook is looking likely to be dry for up to three months according to the MET (Met Office). If current trends persist, we may have to consider water rationing. To that end, we urge everybody to reduce your water usage. Every drop counts.”

TTV is urging public to not hold car wash fundraisers, do not hose down or water blast your shopfronts or driveways (use a broom), do not water gardens and lawns everyday (reuse your dishes water), no filling up of new or existing pools, ponds or watering hard surfaces, do not run livestock or irrigation water continuously, repair leaks and faulty taps at your homes, plantations and businesses and to report any leaks on public roads to them.

They recommend growers to water their plantations between 6am – 10am and 6pm – 10pm.

Anguna-Kamana reiterated the Ministry’s support for TTV’s water conservation efforts.

“Many farmers use drip irrigation for watering their crops. We advise farmers to water their vegetable crops very early in the morning or late evening,” she said.

“The Ministry continues to work and support TTV in their awareness programmes of conserving water during these times.”