Northland councils are asking water consumers to conserve water to delay, or avoid the need for, compulsory water restrictions.
We will also post information about any compulsory water restrictions that are in place in the Far North, Whangarei or Kaipara Districts.
There are no restrictions on the use of water.
You may:
Water your garden with a hose, sprinkler, irrigation system
or watering can
Use a hose, bucket or water blaster to wash vehicles,
windows, buildings and paved areas
Fill or top up a swimming pool from the mains water supply
Water restrictions are in place.
You may:
Use a watering can or hose with a trigger nozzle
to water gardens
Use a bucket, water blaster or hose to wash vehicles,
windows, buildings and paved areas
Fill or top up a swimming pool from the mains water supply
You may not:
Use a sprinkler or irrigation system to water your garden
Water restrictions are in place.
You may:
Use a watering can to water gardens
Use a bucket to wash vehicles, windows, buildings
and paved areas
You may not:
Use a sprinkler, irrigation system or hose to water
your garden
Use a trigger nozzle hose, hand-held open hose or water
blaster to wash vehicles, windows, buildings and paved areas
Fill any swimming pool from the mains supply
Full water restrictions are in place.
You may:
Use water for drinking and cooking
Use water to wash clothes and take showers
You may not:
Use water anywhere outside
Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving.
Install a water-saving shower head. These are stocked by plumbing suppliers and some hardware stores, and can halve the amount of water you use.
Use less water in the bath and take shorter showers. A bath can use up to 80 litres of water, while a shower uses less than half that.
Install a dual flush toilet cistern or put a weight (such as a half full soft drink bottle or a brick) in your cistern to reduce the quantity of water you flush.
Flush the toilet less often.
Store a bottle of drinking water in the fridge to help avoid running more water than you need for a glass of water.
Put the plug in the sink when washing vegetables and avoid running the tap.
Use the dishwasher for full loads only. Each load uses 40 to 80 litres of water.
Look for the AAA Water Conservation rating when purchasing new appliances.
Wait until you have a full load of washing or make sure you set the machine for smaller loads. A full washing machine uses about 150 litres of water in just one wash.
Mulch your garden with grass clippings or compost. Mulching can prevent up to 70% of water loss through evaporation. The best mulch is well-rotted compost which will also improve the soil’s ability to hold moisture.
For lawns, apply the ‘step test' – if grass springs back after you walk on it, it doesn't need watering.
Soak your garden once every few days rather than giving it a quick drink every night. Light watering makes the plants shallow rooted, and most of the water is wasted through evaporation. Soaking the ground every few days encourages the roots to go deeper into the soil to seek out moisture.
A hose running at full volume uses 2000 litres of water per hour. This would fill a bath 28 times!
Don’t let the children play with the hose. This can waste 2000 litres in just one hour!
Avoid using sprinklers - these are an inefficient way to water your garden, particularly on a hot day.
Is someone in your community not being water wise?
Let us know and we will check it out – and don’t worry, your details will be kept confidential.
If you spot a major water leak, contact your local Council immediately.
Leaks waste water 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A dripping tap can waste up to 3600 litres a year – that’s more than a full bath a week.
CHECK:
If the toilet leaks or a tap drips, fix it right away.
BEFORE YOU GO OUT:
