It's United Nations World Water Day March 22nd. This year's theme is 'Water for peace'
The change to Alert Level 2 means sprinklers and watering systems can now only be used on alternate days, i.e. even street numbers on even days and odd street numbers on odd days, between 6am and 8am, and 6pm and 8pm.
Hamilton City Council’s City Waters Manager Maire Porter says the recent hot weather and higher-than-normal water usage for this time of year has triggered the Council to move to Alert Level 2.
“With the warm dry weather expected to continue we need to ensure we don’t use more water than we need. Yesterday’s (6 December) water use was the highest we have ever experienced in the month of December, so we need everyone to do their bit to conserve water,” says Mrs Porter.
“There are lots of ways to conserve water, for example watering the garden by hand, or washing your car on a piece of lawn that needs watering, or taking shorter showers – if everyone in the city spent 30 seconds less in the shower that would save more than a million litres a day.
“We need people to take the water conservation message on board. Otherwise if this level of demand continues, a move to Water Alert level 3 will be needed, which means no sprinklers at all.”
At this stage, the Waipa and Waikato districts will be remaining at Water Alert Level 1 but are closely monitoring their water use.
Water concerns for Hamilton can be reported at smartwater.org.nz/water-concern-form.
The Smart Water site has an e-newsletter to let you know when your alert level changes, as well as a week-by-week water use graph and other water-saving tips. Sign up at smartwater.org.nz/subscribe.
For more information, contact:
Sam Whittle | Hamilton City Council |07 838 6507
About the Water Alert level system:
Water Alert Level 1
Use sprinkler systems between 6am and 8am, and 6pm and 8pm.
Hand-held hosing can be used anytime.
Water Alert Level 2
Use sprinkler systems on alternate days between 6am and 8am, and 6pm and 8pm.
Hand-held hosing can be used anytime.
Water Alert Level 3
No use of sprinklers.
Hand-held hosing only.
Water Alert Level 4
No use of outside water systems.