Water is a taonga – we need to use it wisely. This page outlines ways to save water.
Our community relies on water from our rivers. When it’s dry for a long time, the water supply network comes under stress. Streams and creeks dry up, groundwater levels fall, pipeline breakages increase, and back-up pumping systems and treatment plants work much harder. At the same time, water demand increases. When the demand for water is higher than the available supplies, we need to bring in water restrictions.
Read below how you can prepare for tighter water restrictions and a water shortage.
Water restrictions
Demand for water can put a heavy burden on our water supplies. When this happens we may need to bring in water restrictions. Below are the different restriction levels, which are introduced depending on how serious the water shortage is.
Voluntary
This level means people should try to conserve water wherever possible, whether it’s watering gardens by hose in the evening or washing your car from a bucket rather than hosing it clean.
Level 1
This level means people can still water their gardens. You can use handheld watering devices any time, as long as you don’t leave them unattended. Between 8pm and 8am, you can use your sprinkler and do anything that requires using a lot of water such as washing your car or water-blasting.
Level 2
This level makes sure people are watering their gardens only when they really need to and only between 8pm and 8am. All other activities using a lot of water should be done between 8pm and 8am.
Level 3
This level of restriction is introduced when we need to take serious action and all residential outdoor water use must be stopped. We know that people put a lot of hard mahi and love into their gardens, so consider using grey water to water your garden – just not your vegetables or any plants you’re planning to eat.
Consider reducing your indoor use by taking shorter showers and only doing full loads of laundry.
What you can do to conserve water
We use between 180 and 250 litres of water per person each day, not including garden watering. Here are some simple things you can do in your home and garden to reduce your water use.
Outdoors
- Water your garden by hand in the early morning or late evening. Using a trigger hose or watering can is best. A garden sprinkler uses over 1000 litres of water per hour.
- Soak the garden every few days. Light watering makes plants shallow-rooted and most of the water is lost through evaporation.
- Adjust your lawn mower to cut at 40-50mm. Taller grass holds soil moisture better.
- Leave lawn clippings on your grass and mulch around plants to retain moisture. This also helps keep the weeds at bay!
- Consider harvesting rainwater or saving grey water from your bath and laundry for garden use.
- Check your sprinkler and hose for leaks.
- Wash your car from a bucket rather than hosing. Washing your car with running water can use up to 400 litres.
Indoors
- Have a shorter shower or cut down the amount of water for your bath. Each minute in the shower uses about 14 litres of water and filling a bathtub takes about 300 litres.
- Turn off the tap when you are brushing your teeth or shaving.
- Set your washing machine to the proper load size. Around 20% of indoor water use comes from doing laundry.
- Keep an eye on your taps for leaks. A dripping tap uses 100 litres a day.
- Cook food in as little water as possible. This also helps retain nutrients.
- Use a small bowl rather than a full sink or running water to wash vegetables.
- Defrost food in the fridge rather than using running water.
- Recycle old water from pet bowls, kettles, etc, to water plants.
Planning for the future
- Choose plants that don’t need too much water.
- Look for the AAA Water Conservation rating if you are buying new appliances.
- Consider installing aerated tap mixers and a water-saving showerhead.
- Consider installing a dual-flush toilet cistern or place a weight in the cistern to reduce capacity.
Water restrictions
Demand for water can put a heavy burden on available supplies. When this happens we may need to bring in water restrictions. There are different levels of restrictions and will depend on the situation at any given time.
FAQs
-
Why do we have water restrictions?
We use water restrictions to make sure all water users can still be supplied a certain level of service and water. We assess a number of factors before implementing water restrictions. The biggest driver for water restrictions is the catchment yield and therefore the water levels in the sources (rivers), weather patterns and customer demand.
Most of Dunedin’s water comes from rivers, so we can only use as much water as the rivers supply. When river levels get low, we need to use less water – our water storage covers pipeline or pump station failures rather than rivers drying up. At the moment, we have enough water to meet demand but this could change quickly.
The one area DCC can make changes is in the customer demand which is why we’re asking people to reduce their water usage.
-
What are our water restrictions?
Currently our water restrictions are voluntary in the Dunedin area. This means try to conserve water as much as possible, in case we have to move to a higher level.
-
What are the water restriction levels?
There are four levels of restrictions – voluntary, level 1, 2 and 3. They aimed to reduce water use by different percentages i.e. level 1 is a 10% reduction in demand and level 3 is a 20% reduction with restrictions on more types of water use.
This flyer Saving Water shows the different restriction levels.
-
Why is the risk of tighter water restrictions more serious this summer?
Increasing leaks, a growing population and relatively high use mean a higher risk of tighter restrictions this summer. Warm dry weather is forecast for early so we need to manage our water carefully.
-
Do water restrictions apply to everyone?
Restrictions apply to all residential properties. All commercial properties are included with the exception of public fountains using recirculated water, public or commercial swimming pools and commercial car wash and car sale yards.
-
What about commercial water use?
We’re asking commercial water users to consider how they use water and to make changes to save water if that is practical for their business. If your business uses a lot of water, we are not asking you to reduce your business outputs. We’d like businesses to review their water use to make sure it is as efficient as possible.
-
How does the DCC monitor water use?
We operate a run-of river scheme which means that we take water directly from a river, via the treatment plant and deliver it to your tap. The amount of water being treated at our treatment plants is continually monitored, which tells us how much water is being used.
-
Is there anything else you monitor besides water use, in times of water shortages?
Yes, we monitor reservoir and river levels, and weather forecasts.
-
What should I do if I see someone wasting water or the water main outside my house is leaking?
If you’re aware of water leaks on Council water services, please report the details to us so that our water contractors can investigate. Report it via DCC customer services on 477 4000 or submit a fix it form.
-
Why do I need to restrict my water use when we’re losing water to leaks throughout the city?
Finding and fixing leaks is one of our top priorities, but with the resources available, we can’t fix them all immediately.
-
Why can’t we reconnect to the Mosgiel bores which were disconnected in 2017?
We have no plans to recommission the Mosgiel bores at the moment due to the cost, time and resources it will take us to ensure these water supplies comply with NZ drinking water standards.
Our Water Conservation Management Plan
Our Water Conservation and Management Plan sets out ways the DCC and residents can manage water supply and demand more effectively and sustainably. The plan considers population growth, economic development and environmental concerns. A copy is available in the related information section below.