Lower flow levels in the Waingawa River, the source of Masterton’s drinking water, have triggered Masterton District Council water restrictions for the first time this summer.

Garden sprinklers may now only be used on alternate days – odd numbered houses on odd days, evens on even days.

Restrictions when flows are low are required as part of the Council’s consent to take water from the river for Masterton.

Restrictions can be found on the Council’s website and through the free Antenno app (available through the Apple Appstore and Google Play).

There are also Council billboards on Chapel Street, near the fire station, on Dixon Street, near Kuripuni, and at the entrance of the Masterton transfer station.

Three Waters Operations & Transition Manager Steve Watt said the start of restrictions was not unexpected.

“Masterton gardeners know how to manage conditions and keep their gardens growing,” he said.

“Restrictions will remain in place until the end of Summer – the end of March – even if we get rain before then.

“We want to avoid changes every time it rains, or we get a few dry few weeks, but if there is a sustained dry period there may be further limits on water use.”

“If flow rates in the Waingawa River fall below 1,300l/s water use may at times be limited to handheld hoses, with a complete ban on garden watering if flows drop below 1,100l/s.

Most urban Masterton homes now have water meters installed, and these can be used to identify potential leaks.

Meters can be found under blue panels on the footpath. If all taps are turned off, and numbers on the meter are continuing to turn, it may indicate a leak, and the Council should be contacted.

Do your part, be water smart

The Council appreciates that not watering gardens may be a big ask for some people, but there are some handy tips and tricks that can help you save water both in your home and in your garden.

In your home:

• Turn the tap off while brushing your teeth.
• Take shorter showers.
• Fix any leaky taps, toilets, showers, and dripping garden taps.
• Install dual-flush toilets instead of single-flush toilets when renovating.
• Use the dishwasher and washing machine only when you have a full load.
• Put the plug in the sink when shaving or washing hands, dishes or vegetables, and run just enough water for what you’re doing.
• Don’t use your toilet as a rubbish bin; it takes a lot more water to flush down sanitary waste, cigarette butts, food leftovers, etc.
• Install a shower flow-saver disc to your existing shower to not only reduce the excess flow of water but also your water heating bill.
• Use water-efficient appliances, bathroom fittings, and tapware. The “star” rating stickers indicate the water efficiency, and there can be large differences in water use between products, so make sure to buy or upgrade to water-efficient when possible.

Outside your home:

• Use a hose with a trigger to control the water flow and the start-stop action. It also helps direct water without wasting any.
• Turn the tap off when you’re finished.
• Use a broom to sweep hard surfaces like paths and driveways instead of trying to hose down leaves and twigs.
• Use a bucket and sponge instead of a hose to wash your car and, where possible, wash your car on the lawn to prevent soapy water from entering the street drain and into streams and rivers.

In your garden:

• Collect rainwater to provide an alternative to tap water. Tanks are available at the Council’s Queen Street Customer Service Centre.
• Switch to drought-tolerant plants to cope with dry summer weather and watering restrictions.
• Recycle bath/shower water or water used in your washing machine (also called greywater) on the garden, but only on plants that are not going to be eaten. Greywater should not be stored and should be used immediately to prevent disease.
• Group your plants into high or low water users to develop an efficient watering system.
• Use mulch to retain moisture in the soil and to protect from drying effects of wind and sun. Mulching also helps keep weeds away.
• Weed your garden regularly as weeds compete for available moisture.
• Leaf cover and lawn clippings left on the lawn serve as a good mulch to provide shade, slow water loss, conserve moisture and help preserve nutrients in the soil.
• Test soil moisture every 4-7 days during dry weather conditions, and only water if needed.
• Don’t let the sun and wind strip your plants off their moisture. Water your garden on calm days during the cool hours – early morning or evening – to avoid rapid evaporation.
• Water your garden low and slow – plants take up moisture through their feeder roots and low, slow watering by hand is the best way to get it there. Moveable sprinklers are the least water-effective.
• Deep soak your plants to encourage feeder roots to grow deeply in search of water instead of sprinkling, which encourages shallow roots.
• Avoid over-watering your plants as it encourages fungus, root rot, rusts, mildew and black-spot.

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