After regular rain and a wet winter, water conservation may not be front of mind for many people.
But with Labour Weekend coming up and a hot summer on the horizon, Tauranga City Council says it's a perfect time to be proactive and tick off some tasks around the home before the city's water watchers plan ramps up in November and December.
Water watchers is a year-round plan to manage Tauranga's water supply - at home, at work, and in the community, with restrictions on sprinklers, water blasters, hoses, filling pools, and other outdoor water use as we enter summer.
Grouped into months, the plan restricts outdoor water use, either outright or at certain times of the day, depending on the method used.
When it comes to washing down the house, driveway, fence and cobbles, or prepping surfaces for home DIY jobs, it pays to be familiar with the water watchers plan.
Water blasters and high-pressure cleaners are fine to use at home until December, but if you're planning to use a hose with a trigger nozzle to wash down any hard surfaces, you should act fast, as this is prohibited from November 1.
Water services manager Peter Bahrs says in addition to following the water watchers plan, people should be mindful of their water use year-round, regardless of the weather.
'Despite all the recent rain, after years of dry summers, the flow in the streams that supply our city's water has improved but is still not fully replenished. Tauranga uses about 30 per cent more water over summer, so it's important we all stick to the plan and get any water blasting, pool filling or car washing done at the appropriate time.
'There's so much more we, as a community, can do throughout the year too. Installing a water-efficient showerhead can save 50 litres per shower, turning off the tap while brushing our teeth saves about 30 litres a day, and scraping your plates into the food scraps bin instead of the waste disposal unit in your sink can save six litres a day.”
Tauranga City Council is building a library of water saving tips and tricks for Tauranga households that will be added to over time. Visit www.tauranga.govt.nz/water-conservation for more information.
3 comments
My plan
Posted on 18-10-2022 06:48 | By Kancho
Will be to keep my investment in garden and lawn alive regardless as last was disaster. For years infrastructure has lagged behind as growth has been lauded and smartgrowth has been a bad joke. The commissioners have been involved with the joke for years so critical water supply is stretched to breaking point with unmitigated growth. David Attenborough said " someone who believes in infinite growth is ‘either a madman or an economist" he further says Sir David said one of the biggest threats to the natural world. So to me that translates that climate change is unstoppable as eighty three million people are added to world population every year all needing food, production , and manufactured goods . While we curtail our efficiency of farming and spend billions on unworkable nonsense.
@Kancho
Posted on 18-10-2022 07:57 | By The Professor
Brilliant post Kancho - you have hit so many nails on the head here!! Lets hope someone in Council is reading your comments and that they provoke some sensible debates within.......I doubt that very much though. I vote Kancho as the new leader for TCC :-)
Same old, same old...
Posted on 18-10-2022 12:23 | By morepork
EVERY Summer we come round to the fact that there is a water shortage. One year it will be unfixable and there simply won't be enough, no matter WHAT measures we take. I still advocate a de-salinization plant on the coast at Papamoa (or thereabouts) that will cover all requirements for Tauranga (60 million litres a day) FOREVER! It will cost $90 million (currently), which, in the Commissioner's scheme of things is pocket change and, being an ESSENTIAL service, it is much more easily justified than a $130 million CBD revitalization pipe dream. The plant, without increasing current water charges, would pay for itself in 3 years, cover its own operating costs and make a profit for Council WITHOUT increasing water rates, thereafter. The water obtained from these plants is pure and delicious (I tasted it in Kuwait). No arguments about who owns water; we ALL would.
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