With a hot, dry and windy summer in full swing, Waipā District may soon be facing water restrictions for the first time in three years.
While improvements to water treatment plants and supply pipelines, public education and particularly the installation of water meters have helped reduce the need for restrictions, demand is continuing to rise.
Water Services Manager Karl Pavlovich said while we are not implementing water restrictions just yet, the increased demand means it is likely we will have to move to restrictions if the forecasted dry conditions continue through February.
Water meters have been a huge help in Waipā reducing water demand over recent years, he said, but alone they can no longer solve the problem of increased demand during a prolonged dry period.
“Summer is when our water use peaks, and our treatment plants can only supply so much. The increase in water demand across the district, combined with this summer’s dry conditions, means we will need to bring in water restrictions if things don’t change.”
The official water alert level restrictions apply only to outdoor water use. Under level one, sprinklers can only be used between 6-8am and 6-8pm, but you can use handheld hoses any time. For level two, sprinklers are limited to alternate days during the same 6-8am and 6-8pm hours, and handheld hoses are still allowed anytime.
For commercial customers who use water as an essential activity – such as landscaping, nurseries and sports fields – outdoor watering is allowed in both level one and two. However, the council encourages all business owners to follow the rules for using sprinklers during the restricted times.
Pavlovich says the aim of moving to one of the lower alert levels is to prevent the district from having to move to more stringent restrictions in future, should the dry weather continue.
“The measures required at levels one and two are not asking much more of people than to be sensible – the kinds of measures we should all be taking, all year round, to help conserve this precious resource.”
Council staff are continuing to monitor water demand and supply carefully, and will notify the public in advance of moving to a water alert level including advertising on radio and through our social channels.
Tips to reduce water use around the home include:
- Water your garden in the early morning or the evening to avoid evaporation
- Use a good mulch to keep moisture in the soil
- Take short showers
- Sweep paths and driveways instead of hosing them down
- Clean your car with a bucket and sponge, not a hose
More water-saving tips for the garden and around the home can be found at smartwater.org.nz.
