Call for Water Conservation in New Plymouth District
The odds and evens system of water restrictions is now in place in Okato and Inglewood, due to low river levels.
As well, residents throughout the district are being asked to reduce their water use.
While the district’s water treatment plants have enough capacity to handle the rising demand for water, the district’s streams and rivers are dropping every day during the current exceptional dry spell of weather.
Taranaki Regional Council Hydrologist Fiona Moore says the river levels in January were more like what they would usually be in February/March.
“While the rivers in New Plymouth District aren’t as low as they are in South Taranaki they are of concern, and the next significant rain isn’t due until around 10 February,” she says.
NPDC Manager Water and Wastes Brent Manning says all residents can play their part by reducing the amount of water they use.
“The less we use, the more water that can stay in the rivers and streams,” he says.
“We would rather be proactive with water restrictions and conservation now instead of waiting until the rivers get even lower and we’re required to take action.
“By being sensible with water use, residents can have a positive impact on the environment.”
The odds and evens system in Inglewood and Okato allows residents in odd-numbered houses to use hand-held hoses on odd-numbered days, and residents in even-numbered houses on even-numbered days. Water sprinklers are banned.
Even though restrictions are not in place elsewhere in the district, water conservation from everyone would benefit local rivers says Mr Manning.
On the last three days of January the amount of water drawn from the New Plymouth Water Treatment Plant ranged from 41,000-43,000m3 each day.
“Because of the recent multi-million dollar expansion and refurbishment of the plant we can handle those flows, but it’s the river volumes that are hurting during this dry spell,” says Mr Manning.
Water saving tips:
Water the garden only on calm days, during the evening or early morning to minimise evaporation.
Soak – don’t spray. A good soaking every third or fourth day during dry spells encourages the roots to go deeper into the soil, making the plant more able to survive drought.
Use a bucket and brush when you wash the car and the house windows, not a hose.
Cover your swimming pool – you’ll stop the water evaporating.
Don’t hose down or water-blast the paths or hard-surface areas.
Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator so you don’t waste water running the tap to cool the water down.
Fix dripping taps. A steady drip of two drops a second wastes 100L a week.
If you wash your dishes by hand, don’t leave the water running when rinsing them.
Don’t leave water running while you clean vegetables. Put the plug in the sink.
Use full loads in your dishwasher and washing machine whenever possible, or use the half-load switch. You’ll save as much as 125L per full wash.
Turn off the tap when shaving or brushing your teeth.
Keep bath levels to a minimum.
Install a flush-saving device on your toilet cistern, or put a brick or a 2L bottle of water in the cistern to reduce its volume.
Commercial properties: Purchase urinal control valves. These can save 86-96 per cent of your firm’s annual water consumption.