Whangarei must cut back on hoses, sprinklers, pools

23rd February 2010

Whangarei residents are being urged to conserve  water to avoid restrictions as city consumption rises while supplies shrink.

"We need people to stop refilling pools, using water slides and hosing down boats," Whangarei District Council water services manager Andrew Venmore said yesterday.

He also wanted residents to cut back on  garden hoses and sprinklers.

"We know garden watering is a major factor because whenever we have a bit of rain we notice a dip in water consumption," Mr Venmore said.

Whangarei usually draws up to 70 per cent of its water from the Whau Valley dam, with the rest supplied by the Maunu and Poroti springs, and the Hatea River as a back-up.

 Mr Venmore said the dam was  providing 30-40 per cent of the city supply as it was only 68.5 per cent full, compared to an 83 per cent average for this time of year.

Most of the city water was being  taken from the two springs and pumping from the Hatea River had started at the end of November.

The Whangarei supply provides water for the city and out to Hikurangi and Whangarei Heads.

Whangarei water consumption fell from 23,000 cubic metres a day at the beginning of January to about 20,000cu m at the beginning of February, but is  back to about 21,000cu m a day.

"Summer demand over the past 10 years has been around 18,500 cubic metres a day and we need to get consumption down to this level to delay water restrictions," Mr Venmore said.

The low level at the Whau Valley dam put city residents in a vulnerable position,  he said.

"We have had below average rainfall since June, as well as this very dry period since before Christmas, so water saving is vital."