Waikato people encouraged to use water smarter

Last summer’s drought was a strong reminder to the Waikato community that we can’t take the region’s freshwater resources for granted.

So, with summer officially kicking off on December 1, Environment Waikato and 10 other councils around the region have teamed up to launch a new Smart Water Use campaign.

“All councils have an important role to play in encouraging ratepayers and residents to use water wisely,” Environment Waikato chairman Peter Buckley said.

Hamilton City Council and the Thames-Coromandel, Hauraki, Waikato, Matamata-Piako, Waipa, South Waikato, Taupo, Waitomo, and Otorohanga district councils are taking part.

Cr Buckley said every litre saved cut down water treatment costs and reduced the amount of chemicals entering the environment.

“There are lots of simple things people can do at home that will make a big difference to their water consumption and their wallets,” he said.

“For example fixing that dripping hot-water tap and you’ll save yourself $50-$60 a year. Or reduce your daily shower from eight to four minutes and you’ll shave at least $80 a year off your household power bill for every person showering – that means a household of four could save more than $300 a year.

“This is something particularly useful to bear in mind for those holidaying at beach baches this summer in areas where water resources are already stretched.”

The Smart Water Use campaign will offer Waikato people water-saving tips, tools and discount vouchers through interactive websites and council publications.

An online calculator will help people estimate water use in their homes and there will be a simple tool to help residents identify where they can install simple, inexpensive water-saving devices on taps, toilets and showers to save water, power and money.

There are plans to offer Smart Water Use in the Garden workshops at participating garden centres around the region from late January.

The Smart Water Use campaign will run through to autumn. For more information please visit www.smartwateruse.co.nz.

Sidebar story:

Workshops help to spread Smart Water Use messages

More than 40 people from Hamilton, Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Taupo and Thames-Coromandel took part in training sessions for landscapers, garden centre staff and council employees yesterday, ahead of the Smart Water Use campaign launch.

The course, held at the Hamilton Gardens, was for those who will be helping to spread Smart Water Use messages. It covered how to conserve water in the garden by choosing the right plants and using mulch, irrigation systems and smart garden design.

One attendee, Lyn Pickering from Palmers Garden Centre in Hamilton, said her customers were more interested in making smart plant choices after last summer’s drought.

“At this time of year they’re uncertain about planting and whether their plants will survive,” she said.

“We’re really pushing that mulch message. We’re getting feedback from customers that people who mulched had gardens that survived the drought, and people who didn’t had problems.”

Taupo District Council environmental educator Sarah Painter, who also attended, agreed last summer’s drought had raised awareness of water conservation issues.

“I think in Taupo, with the drought and the lake actually getting quite low, people are probably realising it’s not this endless resource everyone thought it was.”