Water restrictions eased in Hamilton
A sustained reduction in water use in Hamilton has seen an easing of water restrictions from today. But residents are being warned if water levels at Lake Taupo and in the Waikato River continue to fall, more stringent restrictions may once again be required.
The city has reduced restrictions to Water Alert Level 2 - the use of sprinklers and irrigation systems are allowed between 6-8am and 6-8pm on alternate days only. However the Council continues to closely monitor the situation and says restrictions could heighten if water use rises or the level of Lake Taupo falls to a point where it impacts on the ability to take water from the Waikato River.
The reason for the reduction, at a time when there is a drought, is because of a sustained low level of water use, with Hamilton averaging 55 million litres (ML) of water a day compared to 75-80 ML in late February. This is due to cooler weather and an excellent response from residents, businesses and other large water users to level three restrictions, in place since 27 February and banning sprinklers, irrigation systems and non essential outdoor water use.
Water levels in Lake Taupo and within the Waikato River system are being monitored daily. If Hamilton needs to implement its low river level contingency plan, then the city’s water use would need to fall to around 40 million litres of water a day. This would require Water Alert Level 4 restrictions, a total ban on all outside non essential water use.
Hamilton City Council City Waters manager Tim Harty praised the city’s water users for their considered water use in recent weeks.
"Thanks to everyone who has abided by the water restrictions to date, as a result we have seen this sustained fall in water use. We’ll continue our daily monitoring of water use, along with water levels in Lake Taupo and the Waikato River system, but urge people to continue to be responsible with their water use and keep to the new alternate day sprinkler use restrictions.
"Our most critical time for the city’s water use and supply is still potentially to come, with the current outlook being if there is no decent rainfall in the Lake Taupo catchment in the coming weeks then by late April/early May we’ll need to ramp up water restrictions as part of our low river level contingency plan."
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