Water use in the Horowhenua district analysed

Foxton Beach.

The spotlight is on water use in Horowhenua with figures showing that Shannon people were almost three times as thirsty as those at Foxton Beach.

Latest figures released last month showed that across the district each person went through 390 litres per day, well above the HDC target of 350 litres.

Horowhenua District Council communications adviser Trish Hayward said figures were obtained by calculating the total water supplied, less the total commercial use, then dividing that amount by the population connected.

Foxton Beach used the least water on average, with 178 litres per person each day.

Shannon/Mangaore used the most, recording 480 litres per person every day.

Levin (425 litres) was also above the targeted daily limit, while Tokomaru (313 litres) and Foxton (372 litres) were also thirsty.

Estimates assumed there were between two and three people living in each house, although figures could be distorted by unidentified water leaks and unrecorded water connections.

Foxton Beach was the only Horowhenua community with water meters, and were clearly the lowest users of water.

But that did not take into account that beach dwellings often were made up of holiday homes which were not used all year round, which would distort annual use figures.
As weather in the region heats up, HDC is offering to fix leaks at its own expense in an effort to curb the amount of lost water.

Ms Hayward said HDC was trying to raise awareness with water saving tips, a domestic leak repair competition, and encouraging anyone who spots a leak to have it repaired if it is on their property, or report it if it is in a public space.

"Although water consumption is a council target, managing water consumption is everyone's responsibility and we encourage members of the community to work with us to manage demand," she said.

The promotion was a deliberate effort by Horowhenua District Council to make residents more aware of their water use to curb waste.

But you have to be in quick. Only the first 25 reported leaks between now and Friday February 8 would qualify for the freebie.