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A test of easing commercial water restrictions begins on Monday, but Auckland Mayor Phil Goff is warning residents to continue to monitor water use.
An adjustment to the mandatory restrictions, in effect since May, is being introduced to ease financial pressures on small businesses already affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
This is what you need to know.
WHAT WATER RESTRICTIONS ARE YOU FACILITATING?
READ MORE:
* Auckland drought: water restrictions eased to help businesses affected by ban
* Auckland drought – Watercare CEO says restrictions could end soon
* Auckland drought: forecast confirms a long dry summer ahead
The changes affect commercial operators and have been decided in partnership with the Outdoor Cleaning Industry Association, which previously said the restrictions were costing jobs.
David White / Stuff
Auckland residents need to keep saving to get through the summer without tougher mandatory restrictions. (File photo)
Commercial car washes will be allowed to run.
Commercial outdoor hoses and water jets can be used, but must be equipped with a manual trigger nozzle.
WHAT WATER RESTRICTIONS WILL REMAIN THE SAME?
The ban on the use of fire hydrants for outdoor construction will continue.
Residential users are not affected by the easing of restrictions; in particular, there are no changes in the use of outdoor hoses.
They should continue to use buckets for things like watering the garden or washing the car.
The ban on water jets is maintained.
These restrictions only apply when connecting to the metropolitan water supply network. If you have a rainwater or greywater tank, you can use that water however you like.
WHAT IMPACT IS IT EXPECTED TO HAVE ON WATER LEVELS?
RICKY WILSON / THINGS
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said some sort of restrictions will likely need to continue through the summer.
Goff says the slight easing of restrictions is expected to have a “limited” impact on overall water use.
However, “the easing of restrictions on commercial users will be closely monitored and if the drought continues, the restrictions may need to be reimposed,” he said.
“[Auckland] The Council and Watercare continue to urge businesses and households to keep saving water. We all have to do our part if we want to get through the summer without tougher mandatory restrictions. “
HOW IS AUCKLAND’S WATER SHORTAGE MONITORING?
Goff said that collectively, the city has saved about 40 million liters a day.
New water sources and an agreement to draw more water from the Waikato River also helped increase the water supply by 25 million liters per day, which will increase to 40 million liters in December and 90 million liters next July.
David White / Stuff
The dry bed of the Lower Nihotupu water storage dam in the Waitākere Ranges in June.
“However, despite these important advances, a dry spring to date, plus two years of drought, means that our dams are currently 66% full compared to the normal average of more than 90%. That means we must continue to exercise restraint. “
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?
Waitākere Ward Councilor Linda Cooper chairs the Regulatory Committee and is the Liaison Councilor for Watercare.
“The lower rains will accompany us in the coming years,” he said.
“Let’s take this opportunity to make permanent some of the good water-saving habits we’ve all been using for the past few months at home and at work.”
Goff added: “If it rains enough, we may be able to tighten the restrictions further, however, it is likely that some kind of restrictions will need to continue during the summer, as is the case in many other cities in the country.”
