Council thanks residents for water efforts
A major community effort to reduce water demand is being applauded by Waipā District Council as dam levels start to show signs of improvement following a move to Water Alert Level 4.
Te Awamutu, Pirongia and Ōhaupō have been on a complete outdoor water ban since the move to Water Alert Level 4 was made on Wednesday 12 February. Level 4 means all outdoor hoses, sprinklers and irrigation systems are prohibited. Water can only be used for essential purposes.
Service delivery group manager, Dawn Inglis, thanked the community for its water-saving efforts which have dropped demand on the towns’ water supply significantly.
“We would like to thank every single person who has turned off a tap, used greywater for outdoor plants or reported water wasters to us. It’s through your efforts that we are now seeing an upward trend in our storage capacity for the first time since December.
“Any sign of recovery in the middle of a severe meteorological drought is reassuring. If we can keep up these tremendous efforts, we may be able to drop alert levels when significant rain falls.”
Inglis said that while the upcoming rain forecast is good for gardens, more rain is required before a change to the town’s water alert levels.
“We have had light sprinkles of rain today and one day of rain forecast for Saturday, however, at this stage, we need a week of significant rain before the stream flow replenishes.”
Neighbouring Waipā towns Cambridge and Kihikihi are on Water Alert Level 1 which means sprinklers may be used between 6-8am and 6-8pm only and handheld hosing is allowed anytime.
“Our bulk water carriers are currently required to fill up at the Cambridge bulk water station rather than the Te Awamutu bulk water station, which is increasing the demand on the Cambridge water supply. Community efforts to conserve water will certainly help.”
For more information about water alert restrictions and to subscribe to changing water alerts head to smartwater.org.nz. Residents can check what water alert applies to their property with the Water Alert Tool available at waipadc.govt.nz.