Water

Water is a valuable resource and demands on its usage are always increasing. Even in places renowned for rain (like the West Coast) it is important that we don’t unnecessarily waste water. Below are a few water conservation hints that can help to save water.

Economise

Be aware of the amount of water you use and look for ways to use less.

Maintenance

A leaking tap can waste more than 350 litres of water each day. Check your taps and replace worn washers or valve seats as needed. Use low flow shower heads, aerators or flow restrictors. For older toilets, install a toilet dam or displacement device such as a brick or large stone. Always use fittings appropriately rated for your area, Westport in particular has very high water pressure. Use of appropriately rated pipes and fittings is especially important in pipes over 25m long or where a leak would go unnoticed.

Save outdoors

Water your lawn or gardens only when it needs it. Landscape with trees and shrubs that require less water. Water gardens with a handheld hose or watering can rather than leaving a sprinkler unattended, consider collecting roof water for your garden.

Essential use

Water can be used for drinking, food preparation, hygiene and sanitary purposes only.

There is a complete ban on any outdoor water use.

Restricted

Limited use of water for operational and maintenance priorities as required for business sustainability.

Limited residential outdoor use with hand-held buckets, watering cans, water blasters and low flow devices/attachments.

No high-use consumption/filling activities or general hard-surface hosing is permitted, including unattended sprinkler devices.

Conservation

Considerate use of water for all activities, following Council’s water saving tips (below).

Conservation replaces ‘normal use’ for our current system.

The Ministry of Health has urged Councils to make residents aware that some plumbing fittings have the potential to allow minute trace metals to accumulate in water standing in the fittings for several hours.

Although the health risk is small, the Ministry of Health recommends that you flush a mugful of water from your drinking water tap each morning before use to remove any metals that may have corroded from the plumbing fittings.

The Ministry of Health recommends this simple precaution to all households, including those on public and private water supplies.