Water Restrictions

 The hot dry weather results in a shortage of water in the summer months. Restrictions help manage the water supply to ensure there is enough for everyone, to help with the community’s reaction to climate change, and ensure supplies are available for firefighting.

Although we do not have fixed levels of water restrictions in Carterton, you can expect to see the following measures over summer:

• Reduce your water use: Follow advice on how to save water and use it sparingly.
• Sprinklers on alternate days: Sprinklers may be used on alternate days (odd numbered houses on odd days, even numbered houses on even days).
• Handheld hoses only, on alternate days: A ban on sprinklers and irrigation systems. Handheld hoses may be used on alternate days (odd numbered houses on odd days, even numbered houses on even days).
• Total ban: A ban on all residential outdoor water use.

We are aware that leaks have an impact on water usage in the network, and we continue to work hard to locate and fix them as quickly as resources allow. However, following outdoor water restrictions, and conserving water where you can, makes the biggest impact on the level of demand.

Restrictions and water conservation is part of our resource consent. But we have infrastructure in place to ensure we can provide continuous clean water. We are increasing our leak detection work and new treatment technologies to improve the supply’s efficiency. The installation of our two 2,000,000 litre water tanks will help resilience. But our water usage remains dictated by the water available in the Kaipaitangata Stream, and Frederick Street bore. With a dry summer predicted, the conditions will mean a drain on our supply from the stream, aquifer, and bores.

Water restrictions are one of the measures required by consent agreements in place with Greater Wellington Regional Council for taking water, when water levels remain low. Saving water and limiting use is the only way to ensure supplies for firefighting in our community.

Simply no rain means no water. We have infrastructure in place to ensure we can provide continuous clean water but with a dry summer predicted, the conditions will mean a drain on our supply from the stream, aquifer, and bores.

Simply, many of our urban settlements have their own water sources. Carterton’s differ as our main water source is the Kaipaitangata stream, so our strategy is around water supply of that stream.

Urban households pay an annual charge for use of up to 225 cubic metres. You are still able to access clean, drinking water during summer, however, we all need to conserve water during the dry, hot months to ensure there is enough water for everyone. No rain equals no water.

That’s dependent on current restrictions.

We are aware that leaks have an impact on water usage in the network, and we continue to work hard to locate and fix them as quickly as resources allow. However, following outdoor water restrictions, and conserving water where you can, makes the biggest impact on the level of demand.