Lake Hayes strategy underway - water restrictions due
Preparation of a Water Demand Management Strategy for Lake Hayes Water Scheme is now underway, Queenstown Lakes District Council utilities committee chairman Councillor John Mann said.
“The strategy will identify, in consultation with the community and the council, ways of managing the demand on the water supply and improving the water supply for the Lake Hayes area. That includes a proposal to develop additional water storage and consider a separate irrigation water supply,” Councillor Mann said.
In the meantime the council needed community support to manage the coming summer demand on this water supply scheme and a letter notifying residents on the scheme of forthcoming water restrictions was sent out this week.
The draft Demand Strategy was expected to be discussed with the Lake Hayes supply users in mid-March 2008.
“The existing supply is ample to provide for domestic use for the number of properties connected to the scheme. Each property is entitled to 2,100 litres per day. Unfortunately current water usage is exceeding the capacity and we know that’s due to garden watering and irrigation,” QLDC acting water services manager John Porter said.
As it did last year, the council would continue to identify and address what it regarded as excessive water usage by people connected to the scheme.
“I can assure people that direct approaches will be made as necessary and we have the ability to do something about continued overuse. There are tools that can be implemented on individual properties and that includes water restrictors,” Mr Porter said.
Hand held watering, only, water restriction for all properties connected to the scheme would be introduced from tomorrow. (Saturday, December 1, 2007). The restriction was likely to remain in place until autumn, depending on rainfall. People connected to the scheme would be able to water with a hand held hose between the hours of 5pm and 7am
“What this means is normal domestic use with care and that is a principle that applies to every household in the district and it’s a principle that’s never going to disappear as we grapple with sustainability as a district, as a country and as a planet. I think there has to be a change in the way we use the resource,” Councillor Mann said.
If excessive water use continued the bore pumps would not be able to keep pace and the reservoir would empty.
“Unfortunately when the level of water in the reservoir approaches the fire fighting reserve, council must legally act to shut off valves in the water supply pipe network to preserve the fire fighting reserve until the reservoir can replenish. Nobody here wants to see that happen,” Mr Porter said.
The majority of households had made a concerted effort to conserve water.
“We do need the community’s help again to ensure that it does not have to endure water shut downs. The assistance of everyone in addressing this issue is greatly appreciated,” Mr Porter said.
Households connected to the scheme included residents of Lake Hayes Estate, the Lake Hayes Area, Slope Hill Road and Speargrass Flat Road.
Facts:
2,100 litres per day is considered more than enough water for domestic use.
A hand held hose will use around 900 litres per hour
A sprinkler can use around 1,300 litres per hour
K-line sprinklers can use around 14,400 litres per day