Waipā - You're on

• Water is taken from different sources depending on the area. There may be a water shortage due to lack of rain. 
• The capacity to treat water varies between areas.  Demand for water may outstrip supply. 
• Water consumption can vary with some areas using more water than other areas - this may be from residential, industrial or agricultural demand. 
• Water supply can be affected by algal growth or ensuring there is enough water for fire fighting purposes.

We are privileged to have water on tap 24 hours a day but it is not a finite resource and we can't take it for granted. Even in New Zealand we can run short of water at times due to rising population,  changes in climate patterns or other factors that put pressure on supply. 

Water is the life giver of all things – ko to wai ora ngā mea katoa.  By using water carefully, we are protecting the health and well-being of our freshwater ecosystem. We are also ensuring that water is not wasted and there will be enough to go around when rain is scarce.

Water infrastructure, including treatment plants and pipes, is expensive. Reducing the amount of water that we use reduces the pressure on our existing infrastructure and can prevent or delay increased investment in new infrastructure. Using less water also reduces the amount of energy needed to provide clean safe water and to treat waste water.

Councils are obliged to provide the infrastructure necessary to supply and treat water to national standards as well as provide enough water for fire-fighting. 

Requiring new builds to have a rain water tank would help reduce reliance on municipal water supplies for outdoor watering, but those households would still need to be given a guaranteed town water supply.  Unfortunately, the times when people need water the most, are usually the times when there is less rainfall so rain water tanks cannot be relied upon.

Installing a rain water tank may become a requirement in the future as councils seek ways to manage and mitigate extreme weather events, storm water run-off, increase household emergency resilience and encourage people to value water. 

There are a number of factors that are taken into consideration to determine when Water Alert Levels are needed including current water use & comparison to historical trends;  long term weather forecasts and recent rainfall data, Lake Taupō level (which influences the level in the Waikato River), stream levels; operational status of the water supply (faults, maintenance, processing ability) and changes to the quality of the water source (contamination or algal bloom which can effect processing rates).  Councils (along with other river & stream users) have an obligation to ensure that any water taken is used responsibly and wisely. The Water Alert Level system is one tool to assist in achieving this.

The Water Alert Levels are a system of escalating water conservation measures with a focus on outdoor water use.  In summer, a large proportion of water is used to water gardens and lawns, fill swimming pools, clean houses and vehicles etc.  The Water Alert Levels particularly at Alert Level 1 and 2 do not prevent these activities but help the community to be mindful of how water is being used and provide guidance on using water in a sustainable way.