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:

To find out more about smart water, visit www.hamilton.co.nz/smartwateruse.

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