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Our Council News News and Media Releases 2015 January Level 2 Restrictions for Waitomo district

Level 2 Restrictions for Waitomo district

27 Jan 2015

The latest readings taken by WDC's Water services team show that the District's water supplies are in high demand, during this period of hot, dry weather.

The flow of the Mangaokewa River has dropped below the minimum threshold and therefore Council has put level 2 restrictions in place for Te Kuiti.

Mokau/ Awakino townships have been using (on average) 150m3 per day. Over the Anniversary weekend, this has peaked to 206m3. The new raw water storage dam is in action and performing well. However, water restrictions have increased to ensure there is sufficient water throughout summer.

Piopio water supply is in high demand at present, with water consumption reaching a peak of 407m3 on 25 January.

Benneydale's water supply is sufficient and the plant is performing well. The water consumption level was 142m3 for the 24 and 25 January. Council have put level 2 restrictions in place for Benneydale, to ensure there is sufficient water available for residents and visitors.

  • Level 2 restrictions are now in place for all Waitomo District water supplies.

We urge residents to use water responsibly so there will be plenty of water available for all.

Level 2

Restrictions
  • Use sprinklers on alternate days between 6-8am and 6-8pm. This means if your street address is an even number you can use water on even dates of the month only i.e 8 Smith Street, can use a sprinkler or irrigation system on the 4th, 6th, 12th etc. 
  • Hand held hosing is allowed at anytime. We recommend that gardens are watered in the early morning or evening to reduce evaporation.

 

Quick tips to save water in the home: 

  • Turn off the tap when cleaning your teeth or shaving, you can save 10 litres of water a minute.

  • Showers are the best way to reduce water usage, but only if they are short. Keep shower time to 3 minutes or less.

  • Check your toilet for leaks. Put a few drops of food colouring in your toilet tank. If it appears in the bowl without flushing, you have a leak that needs repairing.
  • When washing clothes, run full loads or be sure to set controls for a partial load if you are doing less.
  • When preparing meals rinse or peel vegetables in a large bowl filled with water. By not running the tap you can save 10 Litres of water a minute.

Quick tips to save water outdoors:

  • Water sparingly, every four or five days, to encourage plant roots to grow deeper. Aim for a total of about 25mm of water per week.
  • Did you know a swimming pool cover can cut evaporation by as much as 90%, reducing the need for top-ups in the dry summer season.   

  • To check for swimming pool leaks use a pencil to mark the water level at the skimmer. Check the mark 24 hours later to see if it’s gone down.

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