Viewpoint – Ready for the dry summer?

Are you a rainwater tank user? There are three things to consider ahead of what is predicted to be another dry summer …

1. Understand your usage. Fit a tank level indicator and monitor usage in the periods between significant rain events. You must know your “normal” and then learn what steps you can take to reduce usage to make your storage capacity last longer.

2. Consider additional storage capacity now. Adding additional capacity will reduce your requirement for water delivery during long periods without significant rainfall. However, there will be no point in investing in additional storage capacity unless it is installed before the summer. There are often lead times for delivery of new tanks and installers need to be booked as well. If you are on a lifestyle block and you have animals that need water, have you factored in their requirements? If you are considering additional capacity, act now!

3. Lastly, don’t leave it until the last minute to book a water delivery. Water carriers will be very busy this summer just as they were last year.

Warkworth and Wellsford urban areas are currently unaffected by the water restrictions that apply to Watercare’s metro network as these areas have their own independent supply. Some people have asked why Watercare doesn’t make a guaranteed provision for rural tank users. The simple answer is because Watercare’s services and infrastructure are paid for by its urban customers. To hook up to the urban supply requires an infrastructure growth charge fee of thousands of dollars. Then there are the ongoing annual fees and water charges. These are not paid for by rural tank water users though our general Council rates. Urban water supply is a user-pays service. In order for Watercare to cater to rural users, they would have to work out how much water is required. We would need to come into a charging regime and it would probably have to be an “everyone-in” service. Those on tank supply who manage okay through droughts are unlikely to be happy about this sort of arrangement.

So what are we doing to assist if things go dry again this summer? The emergency hand-held container filling points will be provided as they were last year and Watercare will continue to make tanker filling stations available to approved water suppliers. But because there is adequate time for tank users to prepare, the Council is not repeating the emergency intervention of additional tankers that were used to assist commercial tankers.

However, Council staff are looking at how they can assist with the rural supply by developing additional capacity from suitable private bores. If you have one of these and would be interested in discussing this with Council, please contact me on my email address (below) and I can put you in touch with the right staff.

Because water restrictions may be in place in urban areas, companies that helped out people last summer with filling may not be able to legally do this. Because of the risk of a repeat of last summer, we are urging people to think about their tank supply now, get in touch with your local tank supplier now, leaving it until the end of the year or mid-summer will be too late.

Email: phelan.pirrie@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Phelan Pirrie, chair Rodney Local Board
phelan.pirrie@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz