Monday 2 April 2012

Water restrictions lifted for Christchurch and Akaroa

Water restrictions have today been lifted for Christchurch, Lyttelton Harbour and Akaroa, and Mayor Bob Parker is delighted to be able to share the good news with the community.

"This announcement gives everyone a clear indication of where this city and the wider Canterbury region is heading in terms of the recovery. Times have been tough but we are progressing well, and the fact that we can now lift water restrictions is symbolic of how far we have come over the last year - this is a milestone achievement for the recovery," he says.

Water restrictions were first introduced for Christchurch and Lyttelton Harbour communities in October 2011, and were reduced to last month. Akaroa had restrictions imposed in December 2011 in preparation for the summer holiday season. During this time, 5.76 billion litres of water have been saved, which is equal to a 20 percent saving overall.

With the restrictions now lifted, the public can water outdoors at any time and on any day. Sprinklers and irrigation systems can also be used, however, the Council is encouraging people to continue to water wisely.

The announcement is welcome relief for residents and particularly important for commercial industries who require outdoor watering for production, such as garden centres and nurseries.

Mr Parker says the announcement is excellent news for the Canterbury region and is a testament to the dedication and commitment shown by staff to repair the network, and to the community's support which has been so important over the last six months.

"I'd like to congratulate our staff and contractors who have worked so incredibly hard to ensure our water supply network is running as well as it can be at this point in time. I'd also like to acknowledge the support we have received from the community. This achievement really has been a community-wide effort. Without this support, we may not have achieved this significant milestone."

ENDS

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