Waipa people must use less water

25 November 2014

Waipa residents are being asked to reduce the amount of water they use per person.

If they don't, the council will be forced to spend millions more on infrastructure to provide the amount of water people in some parts of the district are currently using.

Waipa District Council has released details and costs for two options being considered to help solve the district's water challenges and cater for predicted growth. But irrespective of which option is chosen, council engineers say driving down water use in the district is a must.

Group manager service delivery Barry Bergin said residential customers will need to reduce their water use from 250 litres per person per day, to 190 litres per person per day.

We are planning infrastructure upgrades to cater for personal use of 190 litres per person, per day. In those parts of the district that already have water meters - Ohaupo and Pirongia - that's where it sits now, he said.

But it needs to be at that level across the whole district, otherwise we will have to spend a lot more money providing a lot more water when really, that can be avoided.

Farmers and commercial users will also need to be more mindful of how much water they use and may potentially face water restrictions in future, he said.

Water meters are just one way to manage water demand, Mr Bergin said. Others include minimising leaks and continuing the successful summer water conservation campaigns. Over summer last year, Waipa residents saved 35 per cent of water from November to April 2014.

Read more about water in Waipa in this media release.

Media enquiries: to Jeanette Tyrrell (on behalf of Council) 027 5077 599