Gardeners subject to councils' water restrictions

Water restrictions are being put into place in Hawke's Bay

Water restrictions have been imposed from Hastings to Eketahuna as councils take precautions to conserve supplies over the summer.

The restrictions, mainly affecting gardeners and limiting the use of hoses and sprinklers, were announced yesterday by the Hastings District Council, Central Hawke's Bay and Tararua district councils, but no restrictions are yet being imposed in Napier or the Wairoa district.

In Hastings and Havelock North the use of hoses and sprinklers is banned for 20 hours a day.

These may only be used between 6am and 8am and between 7pm and 9pm, while in CHB and Dannevirke (and the rest of the Tararua district) alternate-day use is being implemented matching users to days based on the odd or even numbers of their street addresses.

Total hosing bans are in place in Norsewood and Waimarama, while at Kairakau on the Central Hawke's Bay coast a full water ban is now in place, which means washing cars and boats and filling tanks and pools are also specifically excluded.

In Takapa and Porangahau it's limited to hand-held hoses.

The Hastings council says the restrictions of use of water from its aquifer-filled supply have been implemented as water levels fall in rivers and streams, at a time when daily urban usage surges.

Councillor Tania Kerr said that while the council is pleased with the restraint shown by residents so far, usage continued to rise and had reached the limit imposed under the council's water consent.

"The recent spell of hot weather has put our waterways under pressure," she said.

"Watering only during the early morning and later in the evening will help minimise wastage, save water during the hottest part of the day and ensure plants and lawns get the greatest value from the irrigation (in the cooler part of the day)."

"If all residents abide by these simple watering rules, there is every chance that we will get through the rest of summer without the need for any further restrictions."

"The restrictions will ensure that water use in the urban area is consistent with restrictions which are imposed on water users in other parts of the district."

Temperatures yesterday were 5C below those of the previous day, and some showers or rain is forecast over the next few days with showers in Dannevirke today and further north tomorrow.

The last significant rain in Hawke's Bay was in the first half of December.