WAITOMO District Council wants people to become more aware of thiewater usage
WATER restrictions may become a six-monthly regime in Te Kūiti if a conversation about encouraging a year-round awareness of water usage in Waitomo is acted on.
Waitomo District Council three waters manager David Karrol told councillors water restrictions would be be introduced as soon as possible to get people used to the idea before the need arises over the peak summer period.
A hotter than usual summer was expected, he said.
“We have struggled in the past and we may just go with the lowest level of restriction for now.
“What has happened in the past is we made the call too late. It takes time to apply and for people to get used to the restrictions.”
The intent is to start with the lowest level of restrictions in the council’s four-step ladder.
“What’s being proposed is year-round better awareness of water and the cost that it is as a service,” Cr Janette Osborne said.
“Because all of this water is, of course, being treated. And as we saw in one of our workshops the water usage per capita is quite high; very high compared to nationwide.
“And every litre that we are using to water a garden has been treated and has a cost to be treated.
“So, this is potentially looking at alternative ways of water.”
Janette attended a recent CoLab workshop held in Te Kūiti to which all councillors were invited.
“That was really useful, because I thought there were some great lessons coming out of that.”
Mayor John Robertson said he totally supported the “conservation stuff” but said it was not on the minds of most people.
Janette referred councillors to a paragraph in the report stating the Piopio water supply might struggle to meet demand during the summer period without breaching its consented water take limit.
In reply to her question about the implications of breaching the consent, strategy and environment general manager Alex Bell said if the consent was exceeded, council would receive an abatement notice from Waikato Regional Council.
They might be lenient once or twice but if it continued, the response would become formal, infrastructure services general manager Shyamal Ram said.
“And this is our sole water source for Piopio township?
“So, it’s pretty important we get that right, the conservation message is extra important for Piopio,” Jeanette said.
Cr Gavin Todd suggested a notice could be put in the Piopio bird Talk newsletter asking people to keep an eye out for leaks.
David Karrol said the council would begin by requesting a lower form of water conservation or restriction.
“The reason is, if we go to a level two, level three restriction, people are going to use the water because they are going to say ‘Woops! There is a restriction on’. And they get onto doing the watering.
“It is better to be pro-active with a low form of restriction now so people can have this idea of conserving water.”
