Water Supply Restrictions
Kaitaia
The situation in Kaitaia is critical. Recent rain has had a short-term positive effect on the Awanui River levels but not enough to do any lasting good. The council has had to ask the Northland Regional Council for consent to take water below the conditions set out in its resource consent because the Awanui River levels are so low. This is the first time the council has had to do this, indicating how severe the drought is.
There is a shortfall between what the regional council says the Far North District Council can take from the river and what the community actually uses. This means the council has to draw on its reserves. At one stage recently, there was only enough water in reserve to keep Kaitaia supplied with water for a week. This situation could happen again at any time if the dry weather continues.
We need to reduce our water use by 20% to get through this crisis. The council has tried to get people to do this voluntarily but unfortunately this approach has not worked well and certain water uses are now prohibited, as follows:
- Commercial car washing activities – both automated and 'do it yourself'
- Truck washing facilities
- Waterblasting
- Watering lawns and gardens (except with grey water)
- Washing private cars, windows, houses, decks and pathways with anything other than a bucket
- Filling, re-filling or topping up swimming and spa pools.
Additional warranted monitoring staff have been appointed by the council and they are enforcing the prohibited activities. Failure to comply with the prohibitions can result in enforced restrictions to business and residential water supplies and/or incur a fine of up to $20,000 upon conviction.
The council is preparing a strategy based around water tankers, water containers and non-potable water should the worst happen and the reticulated water supply runs out. This strategy will make sure that water is available to the people of Kaitaia, even if it is in a very limited form.
It is worth noting that the Kaitaia public swimming pool can be kept open due to the efforts of CBEC to find alternative water sources. It is no longer being filled with water from the council’s reticulated water supply.
Kaitaia’s bulk water carriers have restricted access to the council’s reticulated water supply. The hours of access are 8am to 5pm daily until further notice.
The Kaitaia community is in a crisis and the only way to get through it is to pull together and cut down on water use – now.
Please take time to look at Water Conservation Tips and important links (below) or view Kaitaia's weekly water demand.
Opononi and Omapere
The situation in Opononi and Omapere is critical. The water source, Waiotemarama Stream, is at very low levels and may not be able to be used for much longer. The council is seeing alternative water sources from which it can tanker water to its treatment plant.
The community needs to reduce its water use by 20% to get through this crisis. The council has tried to get people to do this voluntarily but unfortunately this approach has not worked well and certain water uses are now prohibited, as follows:
- Commercial car washing activities
- Truck washing facilities
- Waterblasting
- Watering lawns and gardens (except with grey water)
- Washing private cars, windows, houses, decks and pathways with anything other than a bucket
- Filling, re-filling or topping up swimming and spa pools.
Additional warranted monitoring staff have been appointed by the council and they are enforcing the prohibited activities. Failure to comply with the prohibitions can result in enforced restrictions to business and residential water supplies and/or incur a fine of up to $20,000 upon conviction.
Easter is likely to be a crunch point in terms of water supply so the council is targeting baches with information about the water shortage and what it means to people on its reticulated water supply.
Please take time to look at Water Conservation Tips and important links (below).
Kawakawa and Moerewa
The situation in Kawakawa and Moerewa is critical. The water source, Tirohonga Stream, is at very low levels and may not be able to be used for much longer.
The community needs to reduce its water use by 20% to get through this crisis and the council is now prohibiting certain water use activities, as follows:
- Commercial car washing activities
- Truck washing facilities
- Waterblasting
- Watering lawns and gardens (except with grey water)
- Washing private cars, windows, houses, decks and pathways with anything other than a bucket
- Filling, re-filling or topping up swimming and spa pools.
Additional warranted monitoring staff have been appointed by the council and they are enforcing the prohibited activities. Failure to comply with the prohibitions can result in enforced restrictions to business and residential water supplies and/or incur a fine of up to $20,000 upon conviction.
Easter is likely to be a crunch point in terms of water supply so the council is targeting baches with information about the water shortage and what it means to people on its reticulated water supply.
District Wide
Although Kaitaia, Opononi, Omapere, Kawakawa and Moerewa are the hardest hit communities in terms of water shortages, the whole of the Far North District is affected by the drought. We all need to be aware how precious water is and that it is not an infinite resource. It is useful to get into good water saving habits at all times.
People on water tanks are used to saving water because they know once their tank is empty, that’s it and the only option open to them is to buy some more water in. They use on average about 140 litres per person per day. The average reticulated consumer uses about 200 litres per person per day – this is because water comes out of the tap and the expectation is that it will always do so and there is no need to try to cut down on water use, because there’s plenty of it.
The current exceedingly dry conditions are challenging that expectation. Water is not a right, it’s a precious resource and we should all do our bit to cut down our water use by getting into some very simple everyday habits, as outlined in the conservation tips below.
Start by looking for drips and leaks and fix them. If they are on council property, let us know and we’ll fix them. A dripping tap can waste the equivalent of a bathtub of water a week. That’s a lot of water and if you are on the council’s reticulation scheme, it also adds up to higher water rates. Cut down on water use and we all benefit – the council, the consumer and our environment. What’s there to think about?
Please take time to look at Water Conservation Tips and important links (below).
Water conservation tips and important links
Page created/updated: 12 March 2010 at 8:06 am
