Water restrictions lifted in Hamilton and Waikato District

All water restrictions have been lifted in Hamilton and the Waikato District today following a sustained decrease in daily water consumption levels.

Hamilton City Council city waters manager Tim Harty said that with summer officially over and daylight savings ending next weekend, he is confident that the demand on water will remain at acceptable levels without the need for water restrictions.

“We have been pleased with the way that residents have responded to the water alert levels this summer. They’ve clearly abided to the restrictions that have been in place and taken proactive steps to conserve water where possible, therefore avoiding the need for a total domestic sprinkler and irrigation system ban or any water restrictions on commercial properties this summer,” he said.

Waikato District Council water and facilities general manager Richard Bax said it is great to see that people are making changes to the way they view and use water.

“Even though we have a large river flowing through our region, it is important to realise that water is not an unlimited resource. We all need to take appropriate steps to conserve water wherever possible to ensure a consistent supply right throughout the year, including peak demand periods such as summer,” he said.

Both councils are confident that even with all restrictions now lifted, residents will continue to use water wisely and maintain sustainable levels of water usage in the months ahead.

The lifting of all water restrictions in Hamilton and the Waikato District comes despite other areas such as Northland and Auckland facing drought conditions.

Hamilton and Waikato’s water alert levels were introduced last summer as part of ‘Smart Water Use’ – a regional collaborative effort between Hamilton City Council, Waikato District Council, Environment Waikato and other territorial authorities throughout the greater Waikato. The initiative aims to encourage residents to regard water as a ‘limited and precious resource’ and promote proactive water conservation.