Date: December 21st 2012

Third level of water restrictions in place for residents in the Esk/Whirinaki area

Residents in the Esk/Whirinaki area of the Hastings District are being advised that further water restrictions are being imposed and to be more vigilant over the use of water.

As with the rest of the district, the Esk/Whirinaki area is currently on the second level of water restrictions but will now move to the third level which includes a sprinkler ban.

Water Services Manager Brett Chapman says “While we are pleased with the restraint being shown by residents around the district on the use of water, it has become evident in the past few weeks that useage in the Esk/Whirinaki area continues to rise and is running at the limit imposed in our water consent.”

Mr Chapman says “The status of water restrictions is constantly monitored by Council officers and changes are made in response to water use. We need to take measures now to reduce demand so we will be moving to the next level of restrictions for the Esk/Whirinaki supply. Residents will be notified that from today, the third level of restrictions are coming into force which means watering can only be done with hand held hoses and we will be monitoring the situation closely.”

“If the rainfall that is being predicted for the next week isn’t as great as is forecast or residents in the Esk/Whirinaki area don’t show greater restraint in the use of water, we may have to seriously look at implementing a total irrigation ban on the Esk/Whirinaki supply.”

“The rain that is forecast in the next week will help the water situation but we will need a considerable amount of rain before we can even think of reducing the current water restrictions,” Brett Chapman says.

The whole of the Hastings District is currently under a water restriction which means the use of hoses and sprinklers is only permitted between 6am and 8am in the morning and 7pm and 9pm in evening except the coastal settlement of Waimarama which has a total watering ban.

Hastings District

Hoses and sprinklers allowed between 6am-8am & 7pm-9pm

Esk/Whirinaki

Sprinkler ban Hand held only between 6am-8am & 7pm-9pm ONLY

Waimarama

Total sprinkler and hose ban

ENDS

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