The total ban on sprinkler use in Waipa District has been lifted, and residents may now resume watering gardens and lawns without restriction.
The ban was introduced in February, after unprecedented dry weather and high water consumption across the district. The ban remained in place due to persistent drought conditions, and record low Waikato river and stream flow levels.
Recent rainfall has meant that river and stream levels and flows are back to normal, so it is possible for the district to return to normal water consumption.
WDC Engineering Manager, John Kerr, would like to thank the residents of Waipa for their efforts in water conservation during this trying time.
“The cooperation and effort shown in reducing demand over the very dry summer was excellent, and went a long way towards ensuring the continuity of the water supply. We are greatly relieved that we did not need to put any further restrictions in place, and of course that the rain has now arrived.”
The Te Awamutu and Cambridge town water supplies rely heavily on water from streams on Pirongia Mountain and the Waikato River, and contingency plans remain in place to ensure a continuous water supply is maintained across the district, should the river levels drop in the future.
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