MEDIA RELEASE: Residents urged to keep up the good work with water conservation
13 January 2013
For Immediate Release
With holidays coming to an end, Councils are urging Waikato residents to be careful with water as they settle back in at
home.
Hamilton City Council, Waikato District Council and Waipa District Council all remain on Water Alert Level 1 however
with the warm dry weeks ahead, it is important that water conservation efforts are maintained to avoid having to move to
Level 2 for as long as possible.
Water Alert Level 1 means residents can use their sprinklers between 6-8am and 6-8pm with hand-held hoses allowed at any
time. Going to Water Alert Level 2 will mean that residents can only use sprinklers and irrigations systems between
6am-8am and 6pm-8pm on alternate days.
Smart Water Programme Co-ordinator Charmaine Petereit is pleased with the efforts people have been making to conserve
water so far.
“Hamilton residents have been smart with their water over the summer holiday period which means we have been able to
remain at Alert Level 1. However with everyone returning from holiday, higher than average temperatures and little rain
forecast over the coming weeks the move to Alert Level 2 becomes more likely.”
“Now is definitely the time we need everyone to be on their ‘Smart Water A Game’ and there are all sorts of simple
things you can do to help out. For example, if you have to wash the car or boat, do it on the lawn, run full washing
machine and dishwasher loads and follow the Alert Level 1 requirements.”
The water alert levels are part of a ‘Smart Water Starts with You!’ sub-regional campaign. The campaign aims to make
long-term change to how we use water and is a joint venture between Hamilton City Council, Waikato District Council and
Waipa District Council.
Smart Water Alert Levels:
[1] Use sprinkler systems between 6am – 8am and 6pm – 8pm. Hand-held hosing can be used anytime.[2] Use sprinkler systems on alternate days between 6am – 8am and 6pm – 8pm. Hand-held hosing can be used anytime.[3] No use of sprinklers. Hand-held hosing only.[4] No use of outside water systems at any time.
To find out more about smart water, visit www.hamilton.co.nz/smartwateruse.