Splash of advice

The sign on State Highway 12 road works at Dargaville warns of cement stabilisation and advises motorists to wash their cars promptly.

That's a good idea, says Turiwiri sharemilker Michelle Pattison, but she would like to know what to use to do the washing when the Kaipara district - along with the rest of the North Island - is in the throes of a drought and local authorities have imposed restrictions on water use.

Downer, which is doing the road works, didn't have an answer. Their contracts manager, Brad Flower, said he couldn't comment because the job was a NZ Transport Agency contract. He referred the Northern Advocate to Grant Clark from Opus Consultants.

But Mr Clark's lips were also sealed by the job being a NZTA contract.

"I'm at the bottom of the food chain clinging to the lowest rung on the ladder so I can't help with this one," he said apologetically.

The only person with any good advice was Kaipara District Council corporate services manager Barbara Ware.

She confirmed the use of hoses and sprinklers was banned in the Kaipara district.

Asked about obtaining water for washing cars, she suggested using a bucket to catch water while showering.

Also, water from the first rinse after washing the laundry was good for garden use as the detergent in it killed aphids, and water from the second rinse was ideal for cars, Ms Ware said.

Just how to get the bucket of shower or laundry water applied to the underside of the car where the cement formed a corrosive coating could be a technical problem beyond easy solution for most Kaipara motorists.

But if they didn't want to get down and dirty, their bucket of water would be handy for washing the rear window of their vehicle, no doubt obscured by dust since the hose ban began.

In the meantime, Michelle Pattison and her husband Stephen have bought three tankerloads of water since dry weather started to affect their area about six months ago.

The water is delivered to their home. Cows on the dairy farm where they live drink bore water, which Michelle said had an "iron" taste.