The Thames Coromandel District Council have advised that a total watering ban is now in place for Whitianga, and Hahei also remains on a total watering ban.

Coromandel Town and Matarangi remain on a sprinkler ban.

'Water restrictions have been eased slightly for Whangamata, Onemana, Pauanui and Tairua which are now on an ‘Alternate Days' restriction,” says a council spokesperson.

The current water restrictions in place in the Thames Coromandel district are:

Hahei and Whitianga - Total Watering Ban: This means all use of water outside the house is banned. This includes watering lawns and gardens, washing cars, boats, houses, and decks, filling paddling pools and playing under sprinklers.

Coromandel Town and Matarangi - Sprinkler Ban: This means a total ban on the use of all sprinkler, unattended hoses and irrigation systems. Hand-held hoses can be used on alternate days: If your address is an even number you can use your hose on even numbered days, and vice versa for odd numbered houses.

Whangamata, Onemana, Tairua, Pauanui - Alternate Days: This means hoses, sprinklers and garden irrigation systems can only be used on alternate days. If your address is an even number you can use your hose on even numbered days, and vice versa for odd numbered houses.

Thames and Thames Valley - No Restrictions.

'Water demand remains strong in all our communities and we ask that residents and visitors continue to comply with the restrictions and use water with restraint,” says a council spokesperson.

The Water Supply Bylaw took effect from Thursday December 19, which means that boat washing is not allowed when there are water restrictions in place.

'Washing down a boat can use a lot of water, which is a challenge during peak summer periods when domestic water demand is high at the same time,” says council's operation group manager Bruce Hinson. 'Of course, we recognise it's summer, but we need people to be mindful and not waste water, we don't want to get into a situation where people are without water for essential purposes.”

'Washing the boat down with a handheld hose when there's a water restriction in place is in the same category as restrictions for using a hose to water your garden,” says Bruce. 'However, if it's just flushing out the boat's motor, that's not a problem, as it's considered ordinary use to keep the boat operating.”

The council ask that people report water wastage and water leaks to the Customer Services team on 07 868 0200.

What can people do to conserve water?

There are a number of simple ways in which water use can be reduced around the house while enjoying what the Coromandel has to offer.

Inside

• Fill the sink to wash vegetables and rinse dishes
• Turn the tap off while you are brushing your teeth
• Only use your dishwasher and washing machine when you have a full load
• Promote shorter showers and shallower baths
• Use a bowl to scrub vegetables in the kitchen sink. You can pour the water on your plants.
• Keep water in a covered jug in the fridge. It saves running the tap to get cold water.
• If the toilet leaks or a tap drips, fix it right away

Outside

• If you have to water the garden, do it in the early morning or evening to reduce evaporation
• Use a broom instead of the hose to clean paths and driveways
• Check taps, pipes, and connections regularly for possible leaks
• If you have rainwater storage, use this supply to water your garden or when you need to wash your car or boat

Holiday Habits

• Remind visitors and guests that water supplies are limited
• When washing your car, boat, trailer, jet ski etc. limit the use of your hose to a quick spray at the beginning then wash using a bucket. A running hose can waste as much as 10 litres of water a minute

For more information on Thames Coromandel District Council water conservation and water use restrictions click here www.tcdc.govt.nz/water