Water conservation at home

Water is a precious resource - one that costs money to treat, transport to your home and then take away again. This summer we have an even greater incentive to use a bit less: we'll have just under half our usual reserves while our storage lakes are upgraded.

Careful handwatering is good for gardens and water conservation

Watering Restrictions

Wellington: A single hose, sprinkler or garden watering system can be used only from 6-8am and 7-9pm on alternate days; even-numbered houses on even-numbered days and odd-numbered house on odd-numbered days. These restrictions are in place year round.

Hutt City: As per Wellington, but for the period of daylight saving only.

Upper Hutt City: As per Wellington, except using alternate days of the week: Wednesday, Friday, Sunday for even-numbered houses and Tuesday, Thursday Saturday for odd numbered houses.

Porirua: As per Hutt City

Keep an eye on the media for updates on restriction levels. They may increase if we have a long dry spell!

Good gardening with less water

Summer is often hard on gardens: rainfall dwindles, evaporation rates increase and the wind can simply blow your watering away. To beat the heat in your garden this summer and help keep our city's water supply costs down, try these five simple garden care tips.

Fit hoses with flow control triggers. A hose left running unnecessarily can waste up to 12 litres a minute.

Mulch garden beds for summer now. Mulch can cut evaporation by 70 per cent, by protecting your soil from the drying effect of wind and sun. Wood chips, bark, grass clippings or straw all make good mulch. Spread a layer 6-8 centimetres-deep on exposed soil after watering. Leave a small gap around the main stem of plants.

Choose drip watering hoses and irrigation systems to deliver water directly onto the soil, at a rate the soild can absorb easily.

Using a sprinkler? Time 30 minutes. Established plants should only need 30 minutes watering once or twice a week in dry weather, as long as the water can soak into the ground. Garden sprinklers can use as much water in an hour as a family of four uses in a day, so timing 30 minutes can make a big difference.

Water when it's cool and calm. Wind and sun can quickly steal water meant for your garden, through evaporation. Only water on calmer days, in the cool of the early morning or evening, to make the benefit of your watering last longer.

Fit a tap timer, so you're not using water if you forget the sprinkler's on

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Use a bit less, make a big difference - indoors

Top tip: Fix those leaking pipes, taps or cisterns!

In the kitchen

Peel vegetables in a small bowl of water rather than under running water
Use economy settings for small loads in the dishwasher - or do only full loads
Use a compost pile rather than a waste disposal unit.
Keep a jug of water in the fridge rather than running the tap till the water is cold.

in the bathroom

Turn off the tap when you brush your teeth or shave
Showers use much less water than baths
Swap to a low flow showerhead - they use less water and save on hot water costs
Fill an empty soft drink bottle and put in the cistern of your single flush toilet - you'll save 1-1.5 litres per flush

Laundry

Only wash full loads.
If you're upgrading your machine, front loaders use about half the amount of water that top loaders do. Check the label for the water rating.

Your water