Conserving water is top priority

With the Dargaville water supply at a critical low level, Kaipara District Council is urging its consumers to actively reduce their water consumption as much as possible.

Three large signs indicating the town' dire situation is mounted at each end of Dargaville's main street - Victoria St - as well as in the Countdown carpark to remind residents of the situation.

Water tankers supplying rural residents have been diverted to Ruawai, whose water supply comes from two bores. Public car wash facilities have been turned off at service stations.

The council has already enforced a ban on sprinklers and the use of hoses, but operations manager John Burt said consumers could do a great deal to help by adopting their own conservation measures.

"Make sure you get maximum benefit from the water you use, he said. "These sometimes small measures will not only help in our present drought, but will also reduce water bills both now and into the future."

Rural resident Jane Rawlings, who relies on tank water, has long ago adapted effective practices for getting maximum use from limited supplies.

"We have our washing water outlet running into the tub so we can bucket the water out to water garden and fruit trees. We use the second rinse of the first load as the first washing water for the second load or save it for hand washing."

Turning taps off between toothbrush rinses is standard practice, as is hanging towels on the clothesline to deodorise and refresh them, thus prolonging the time between washing. Dishes are washed by hand once a day.

"It becomes part of your lifestyle ... It's a matter of evaluating how you use your water and thinking how you could be getting the best benefit out of the same volume," says Mrs Rawlings.

Council's website www.kaipara.govt.nz also gives tips for conserving water. These range from fixing leaks and dripping taps to using a bucket to catch cold water for other use as the shower warms up, bathing all the children together, washing faces and brushing teeth in the shower or ensuring full loads in dishwashers and washing machines.

"If you have other ideas for coping with the big dry the council would love to hear them," said Mr Burt.