Three-year-old Sam Provan's parents were happy for him to have a final frolic through the garden sprinkler spray at his Maungatapere home yesterday.
But Emily and Hagan Provan could face a hefty fine if he turns the sprinkler tap on again after 5pm today.
That's when the Whangarei District Council starts applying compulsory restrictions to conserve water supplies drained by the six-month-long big dry.
Mrs Provan said yesterday it seemed ironic that "really good" rain on Monday night had half-filled the family dog's bowl, and now water restrictions were being introduced.
"But that's absolutely fine - the council's got to do what it's got to do," she said.
From 5pm, garden hoses and sprinkler systems will be banned, and people cannot top up swimming pools.
Council chief executive, Mark Simpson, said the compulsory restrictions would inevitably affect local business and the district and regional economy.
Some businesses would be more affected than others.
"We will require garden centres to stop automatic sprinkler systems and will be working with other businesses that are very water dependent."
Council permission will be needed for commercial car and truck washing and commercial water blasting will be allowed only with water sourced from the council's Ruakaka filling point.
Infringements could lead to the council restricting water supplies to offenders or taking legal action which could bring a fine of up to $20,000.
The restrictions will apply to the council's Whau Valley dam supply area extending through Whangarei city, north to Hikurangi, east to Whangarei Heads, south to Portland and west to Poroti.
The restrictions will also apply to the council supply at Mangapai, but not to the Maungakaramea township or the Bream Bay area serviced by Wilson's dam.
More restrictions are expected to be imposed if the water level in the half-full Whau Valley dam drops to 40 per cent. The council's infrastructure and services committee yesterday gave Mr Simpson delegated authority to replace the current request for voluntary water conservation with mandatory measures.
The move came after Mayor Stan Semenoff called a halt to a debate about the merits of council moves to combat the drought.
He was supported by Cr Greg Martin, who said the debate had "just about created a disaster which is not even there".
Cr Sheryl Mai had earlier criticised the timing of the compulsory restrictions, saying they should have been imposed months ago.
"It's not acceptable that the dam is 50 per cent down.
"People on town supply should have been getting a stronger, clearer message to use water cautiously," she said.
Cr Mai showed the council a picture in the Listener magazine. "That's our dam in a national publication," she said.
Infrastructure and services manager Simon Weston said the call for voluntary water conservation had reduced use of the city supply from 23 million litres a day to 18 or 19 million litres a day.
"I feel the council has acted responsibly," he said.
The compulsory restrictions were seeking a further 15 per cent reduction in use to about 16 million litres a day.
Mr Simpson said he took exception to Cr Mai's "totally incorrect" statements about drought management being irresponsible.
The dam was a buffer and the district was never at risk of running out of water, he said.
Committee chairman Cr Crichton Christie told Cr Mai she had been "a bit tough" in her criticism of the the dam being only half-full.
Cr Sue Glen described how she used grey water from her washing machine to produce luscious green vegetables. "Townies sometimes don't understand how to conserve precious water," she said.
Whangarei hit with water restrictions
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