Water  |  21 Dec 2022

Banks Peninsula residents are being urged to start watching their water use as demand on the area’s water supply networks increases.

Water demand in Banks Peninsula is up on this time last year, and at peak times there’s already pressure on the water supply network.

The seasonal outlook from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) indicates the weather is going to be hot and dry, which suggests high demand on the water supply will continue.

“In previous years we’ve seen extreme pressure on the Akaroa and Takamatua, and Duvauchelle water supplies in particular, and we’re expecting that could be the case again this year,” says Council Head of Three Waters Helen Beaumont.

“If residents are mindful about how much water they’re using, Banks Peninsula is less likely to need severe water restrictions later in summer.”

“Irrigation systems that aren’t set up properly and unsupervised sprinklers use a lot of water, so we’re asking people to be conscious of how long they’re watering for.

“Three to five minutes every second day is enough to keep plants in good condition throughout the hottest months. Targeted hand-watering with a hose or watering can is best, and watering early in the morning or after 9pm means the water is absorbed by the soil instead of evaporated by the heat.”

“Our water supplies on Banks Peninsula rely on a number of small streams supplemented by wells. These streams cannot provide as much water over the warm dry summer period.”

“We’re hoping residents and visitors remember to use water like we oughta this holiday season to help us manage the peak demand on our water supply network.

“We’re doing our best to lead by example and have a leak detection programme underway to reduce the amount of wasted water leaking from Council pipes.

“We’re also working directly with commercial and residential customers with leaks to help get them sorted and avoid excess water use charges.”