Water Conservation

Watch the Drops: save water this summer

Water use increases during summer, particularly when we're watering gardens and lawns. By using water wisely, we can help make sure there's enough for everyone.

Our Watch the Drops traffic light system shows the current water conservation status for your area and helps you understand when you need to reduce your water use.

Check your area's current water status below.

Green: Use water wisely. Be mindful of how much water you use.
Orange: Conserve water. Take extra care to reduce your water use.
Red: Restrict water use. Follow the water restrictions in place for your area.

By following these restrictions, we can ensure that our community has enough water to meet everyone’s needs throughout the summer. Water conservation status can change throughout summer, so check for updates regularly.

Why we ask you to save water

Water conservation and restriction notices help manage high demand during summer, ensuring our treatment plants can keep up and meet regulatory requirements to protect our water sources. During summer, the largest water use comes from outdoor activities, including the irrigation of gardens, lawns and some of our community green spaces.

Why save water when we have the Clutha River?

Even with a large river flowing through our district, the water we use at home and work needs to be treated and delivered through our water supply network.

As ratepayers we pay for both the water we use and the infrastructure needed to treat and pipe that water.

Using less water helps reduce the cost of treating, pumping and distributing water, as well as treating wastewater after it goes down the drain. It can also delay the need for costly upgrades to water and wastewater infrastructure as our communities grow.

During summer, high demand can put pressure on water supplies and, in some places, affect the availability of water for firefighting.

Using only the water we need helps protect our water supplies, reduce costs and make sure there's enough water for our communities.

Every drop counts

When it comes to conserving water, every drop counts. You can do your bit to help save water by:

Reporting leaks from hydrants, a toby (your main water shut-off valve) or anywhere else
Fixing leaking taps, toilets, showerheads and other water-using devices around your home or business.
Learn how to use your meter to check for water leaks. Most are easy to detect and repair with basic know-how and the right tools.

For water saving tips around your home, school or workplace check out the sections below.

Council's water conservation efforts

Council is also working to reduce its water use by:

Installing more efficient watering systems on town reserves and gardens and using untreated bore water where possible
Providing public education campaigns promoting wise water use.
See more about our Water Conservation Garden located in Cromwell.
Read the Changing How We Use Water brochure Council produced in conjunction with Jo Wakelin from Otago Polytchnic Central Campus, which gives great advice about landscaping with less water in Central Otago.

Save water at home

You don't have to go without to save water. A few simple changes can reduce water use around your home.

Take shorter showers. Every minute that you don't spend in the shower saves around seven litres of water. Cutting your shower by one minute each day could save about 2,500 litres a year.
Turn off the tap. Don't leave the water running while brushing your teeth or shaving.
Run full loads. Wait until your dishwasher or washing machine is full before running it.
Skip the pre-rinse. Modern dishwashers and detergent can handle dirty dishes without much pre-rinsing. Scrape off food scraps and put your dishes straight into the machine.
Fix leaks. Check taps, toilets and showerheads for drips, and use your water meter to help identify hidden leaks.

Other things you can do include:

Check for leaks

A leaking tap can waste up to 2,000 litres of water a month, adding unnecessarily to your water bill. Check your taps, toilets and plumbing regularly, and repair leaks as soon as possible. Your water meter can help you identify leaks you can't see.

Toilet tip: Check for a leaking toilet by adding a few drops of food colouring to the cistern. Wait 15 minutes without flushing. If the colour appears in the toilet bowl, you may have a leak.
Find more water-saving advice at smartwater.org.nz

Use water-saving devices

There are many water saving devices you can buy that reduce your water use - flow regulators (to reduce the flow of water), dual flush toilets and water displacement devices that go in the cistern (gizmos') for single flush toilets. Many are inexpensive and easy to install.

Use water-efficient appliances

When replacing a washing machine, dishwasher or toilet, look for water-efficient models. Water-efficiency labels can help you compare products. Choosing a model with a higher star rating can help reduce water use over time.

More information about water efficiency.

Save water at school

Save water around your school. Look for water saving plumbing solutions and promote good water use habits. Water-saving mechanisms in schools educate young people about using water wisely and the need to protect the environment. What children see at school can influence behaviour at home.

Fix Leaks. Schools can save water by promptly fixing all leaks. Students should be encouraged to notify teachers as soon as they detect a problem in a restroom or water fountain. A water audit of your school can find hidden leaks that can waste lots of water and money.
Install water-wise plumbing. Schools can install waterless urinals, dual-flush toilets, and taps that turn off automatically after a set amount of time.
Promote Wise Water Use. Talk to children about smart ways to use water such as hand washing techniques and turning taps off.
Incorporate water-wise landscaping. Use plants that don't require much water in landscaped areas. In addition, water crystals can be added to soil to enhance water retention by as much as 40 per cent.
Cleaning. Hard surfaces should not be hosed except in exceptional circumstances. Where possible use a broom or a mop.

Save water at work

Water is a valuable resource yet all too often we take it for granted. Whether your business is large or small it can benefit from using water wisely. Using water wisely is part of planning for a sustainable future and demonstrates corporate responsibility.

Benefits of saving water at work:

Save your business money. Saving water will have a direct and positive impact on your water bill. Reducing hot water use will also reduce the energy needed to heat water and therefore reduce your electricity/gas bill.
Be seen as environmentally friendly. Demonstrate to customers the importance your business places on caring for natural resources and the environment.
Water treatment uses energy. Save water and you'll reduce your carbon footprint.

Tips for saving water at work

Install dual-flush toilets. These can use considerably less water than older single-flush toilets. A suitable cistern displacement device may also reduce water use in some single-flush toilets. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to ensure the device is suitable for your toilet.
Repair dripping taps. Fixing a leaking tap can save up to 2,000 litres of water a month. A worn washer may be all that needs replacing.
Install urinal controls. Sensor-controlled urinals flush when needed, helping reduce unnecessary water use compared with systems that flush at regular intervals.
Monitor water use. Check your water meter regularly and compare readings to identify unusual increases that could indicate a leak.
Encourage staff to save water. Ask staff to report leaking taps, turn taps off when not in use and use a plug when rinsing dishes.

Save water in the garden

Using water wisely outside your home or business helps reduce the amount of treated drinking water used on lawns, gardens and paved areas. Sprinklers can waste water when they spray onto paths or other areas that don't need watering, or when lawns and plants receive more water than they need.

Water wise tips in the garden and outside

Don't overwater your lawn. If the grass springs back when you walk on it, it probably doesn't need watering yet.
Collect rainwater. A rain barrel or tank lets you use rainwater on your garden instead of treated drinking water.
Use a bucket to wash your car. This can use up to 125 litres less water than washing it with a hose.
Mulch your garden. Mulch helps retain soil moisture and reduces evaporation, meaning you may need to water less often.
Water at the right time. Water early in the morning or in the evening when temperatures are cooler and evaporation is lower.
Sweep paths and driveways. Use a broom instead of a hose to clear away dirt and leaves.
Water only where needed. Use a watering can or a hose with a hand-held trigger to direct water to your plants and avoid unnecessary waste

For more efficient irrigation

Check soil moisture. If the soil is still moist about 10 cm below the surface, you may not need to water.
Choose cool, calm conditions. Water early in the morning or in the evening, when it's less windy and cooler.
Water slowly and close to the ground. Apply water at a rate the soil can absorb, rather than letting it run off.
Avoid overwatering with sprinklers. Adjust your watering to suit the weather, soil and needs of your plants. Established plants may need less frequent watering than you think.
Use mulch. A layer of mulch helps protect soil from the drying effects of wind and sun.

For more information download our Changing How We Use Water: a guide to landscaping with less water in Central Otago brochure.