Auckland's water supply is still feeling the impact of the drought...

by Jan Barker

Auckland's water supply is still feeling the impact of the worst drought on record.  From November 2019 to May 2020, Auckland received only 60% of it's normal rainfall and its water storage is still well below where it should be for this time of the year.  We still need to refrain from wasting Auckland's water.  We are doing well but we need to keep up the good work of saving 20 litres of water a day, every day!  

What can you do to help...

How to save 20 litres a day - that's two buckets of water!

A quick four steps to saving water:

  • Spend a minute less in the shower (save 12 litres!)
  • Turn off the tap when you brush your teeth (save 4 litres)
  • Use the half flush button when flushing the loo (save 6 litres)
  • Fix a leaking tap (save 33 litres a day)

Have you checked your home for leaks?

Dripping taps, dripping showerheads, and leaky toilets all contribute to water being wasted in the home.  To assess whether you your home has a leak, check whether the dial on your water meter is turning when no water is being used.  You can detect small leaks with a simple overnight test.  Read your meter at night before bed, then again first thing in the morning.  If the meter number is higher in the morning, you most likely will have a leak. Below is a few things for you to check before giving us a call:

  • Check all taps, inside and outside.
  • Look behind the dishwasher (if you have one) for any signs of water.
  • Look for damp patches in the garden, lawn or driveway (during dry weather).
  • Listen for running water inside your home when no taps, showers or hoses are turned on (not that you'll be using your hose!).

 SAVE 20

How to save water in the laundry 

  • Have a look at your washing machine and if you can change to water-efficient settings.  This may be called the 'economy setting'.  You may be able to reduce the wash to one rinse cycle rather than two, this will save up to 100 litres of water in just one wash.
  • Don't wash small loads, wait and wash when you have a full load.  A full load wash is the most efficient way to wash your clothes.  
  • You don't have to over-wash your clothes just because an item has been worn once, doesn't mean it requires washing.  If you don't have visible stains and it passes the old 'smell' test then wear it again.  Save water while saving your clothes.

How to save water in the garden

  • Use water from a rain tank to water your garden.  At the moment there are mandatory water restrictions in Auckland which means you CANNOT water your garden with a hose.
  • Water your garden early morning or late afternoon using a watering can or bucket.  This time best suits your plants natural growth.
  • Add mulch and seal in any moisture.
  • Reuse water from your shower.  A great way to collect water is by keeping a bucket in the shower to catch water than can be used on the garden.
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