Water crisis: Aucklanders keep saving

Output at Watercare's Ardmore treatment plant was cut from 330 million litres to 175 million litres a day after heavy silting this month, and is now being increased gradually. Photo / Watercare

Aucklanders kept just under the water use target of 400 million litres Sunday for the second day in a row.

Watercare said the city used 399 million litres of water, well below the March average of 450 million litres, but slightly above the 382 million litres used the previous Sunday (March 12) when the water crisis first hit.

The slight increase suggests that Aucklanders are easing up slightly after Watercare said at the weekend that it has started gradually raising the output of its main Ardmore treatment plant, which had to be cut to half its normal capacity because of heavy silting caused by storms in the Hunua Ranges early this month.

Signs around the city are urging "Come on Auckland, reduce your water use", as the company asks households to keep saving 20 litres a day, or an eighth of their normal usage, until the treatment plant returns to normal.

Aucklanders used a fraction below the target of 400 million litres of water Sunday. Graphic/Watercare

At the current rate of increasing its output by 5 million litres a day, it could take another four weeks to get back to normal.

"Aucklanders are continuing to do a fantastic job of reducing their water use in the wake of the 'Tasman Tempest' weather event," Watercare said.

"Watercare would like to thank everyone for continuing to Save 20 while the company responds to elevated silt levels in the Hunua dams and at the Ardmore Water Treatment Plant."