Christchurch residents asked to conserve water

Target: reduce outdoor water consumption by 10 per cent

Christchurch residents are being asked to conserve water this summer to avoid water restrictions.

Residents need to limit water use because of earthquake damage to the city's water reticulation network, reservoirs and well fields.

Although normal water supply was restored in the days after the September 4 earthquake, the water supply system has been compromised. On hot summer days, Christchurch uses up to four times the annual daily average, and the compromised water reticulation system can not handle this level of demand. If the City does not take steps to limit water consumption over the peak summer period there is a risk that during hot summer days the city may have problems maintaining fire fighting pressures.

Christchurch City Council City Environment Group General Manager Jane Parfitt says the goal for the City is to conserve water, and for each household to aim for a 10 per cent reduction in the amount of water they would have used last summer, particularly for outdoors use. "It only takes a few easy changes to make a real difference in our city usage," she says.

Overall, the most preventable form of water over-use is people watering their gardens over summer.

"So, if we work together to reduce our water usage, we may be able to avoid restrictions," says Ms Parfitt.

Tips to conserve water: *
Check taps and your water meter for leaks *
Minimise use of automated irrigation *
Use mulch to keep your garden cool and moist *
Water the garden at cooler times of the day, in the morning or evening, to minimise evaporation and water wastage. Avoid watering in a nor'west wind as it quickly evaporates the water *
Do not hose down paths and driveways; use a broom *
Use a gun nozzle on your hose - this makes it easier to turn the water on and off, preventing water wastage

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