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Even though the much-heralded arrival of a supposedly drier El Nino weather pattern has yet to make its presence truly felt, rural residents are being urged on all sides to dust off their drought prevention skills and save water where they can.
It may be hard to remember now, after such a wet year, but it was only three years ago that the region was struggling through a serious drought. Nine-week waits for household water deliveries were common and fleets of tankers had to be sent up from the city to provide extra supplies.
Auckland Council’s general manager for Healthy Waters, Craig Mcilroy, said if there were lessons to be learned from then, it was the need for rural communities to be even more prepared than usual, especially those new to the area who might not be used to relying on tank water.
“Forward planning is key to avoiding the experience of 2019-20, so it’s important to keep your eye on the ball,” he said.
As well as checking tank levels regularly, he encouraged people to use water wisely and book a delivery early, before the tank ran dry – after all, if it rains in the meantime, it can always be cancelled.
Council has set up several permanent community drinking water sites in the area to help with future drought management. These outdoor refill stations can be used as drinking fountains during normal conditions, but during dry weather and when there is a long wait for water deliveries, council will attach hoses to the sides so people can siphon off 20 litres per person, per day for each household.
Council uses its network of 78 rain gauges across the region to monitor rainfall levels, with automatic alerts to notify its operations team when to set up the sites for bulk bottle filling.
Mcilroy added that rural residents should consider investing in extra tank capacity if they were able, something that Warkworth water system specialist AquaWorks agreed was increasingly important as extreme weather events become more common.Founder and director Steve Reynolds said optimising rainwater resilience by adding an extra tank wasn’t simply about adding increased capacity.
“With a second tank, you are more independent, saving costs from not buying water, eliminating waiting times for tank refills, especially during the summer, and being more sustainable by reducing reliance on other local water sources or bottled water,” he said.
“You also get more flexibility in your water use, allowing you to have dedicated indoor water for laundry, showers, flushing toilets and so on, and outdoor water, for garden watering and car washing, giving more efficient rainwater management, based on your individual needs.”
Tank cleaning service Safe H2O said it was also important to make sure any water stored in a tank was as clean as possible.
“Keeping your gutters and roof clear of debris is a small step that can have a big impact. This prevents debris from finding its way into your tank,” admin manager Liz Dark said.
“And cut back any branches overhanging your roof and gutters, as these are often an access route for rodents and other animals.”
She added that if a tank had a flush cap, it should be released with each rainfall to prevent debris build-up.
Auckland Council outdoor drinking water sites
Warkworth Town Hall
Wellsford Community Centre
Leigh Hall
Ranfurly Hall, Kaipara Flats
Martins Bay Reserve
Whangateau Reserve
Saving water an alternative approach
Everyone is familiar with classic water saving tips, like putting a bucket in the shower while it warms up, but we thought some fresh ideas were needed, so we asked 12-year-old Lexi, daughter of Aqua Works founder and director Steve Reynolds, for her thoughts:
Don’t leave the tap running while brushing your teeth.
Jump into the shower immediately, even when it’s still cold.
Keep the water from doing dishes to water the garden.
Don’t flush the toilet every time – if it’s yellow, let it mellow.
Turn the tap off if you’re rinsing dishes.
Don’t buy an aquarium that needs more summer maintenance than winter.
Kick your brother (or sister) out of the shower after three minutes.
Wash your hair only twice a week and buy a cool hat.
Wear only togs to give the washing machine a break.
Keep water fights to under five minutes – unless you are at the beach or pool.
