Residents and visitors encouraged to help save water this summer

Residents and visitors to the Queenstown Lakes District are encouraged to help save water this summer, with simple changes at home or the holiday house making a big difference in the face of hot and dry weather likely over the next few months.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) Infrastructure Operations Manager, Simon Mason shared that water consumption historically skyrockets over the Christmas and New Year period, and that demand was already starting to steadily increase this December.

“As temperatures increase and the amount of rain we’re getting drops away, more people turn to the sprinkler to keep that lawn lush and green, they spend more time keeping the garden hydrated, or the hose is blasting in the backyard for kids to play with on sunny afternoons,” said Mr Mason.

“Water is a limited and precious resource, but how we’re using the water we’ve got can become unsustainable very quickly in summer, putting our supplies at risk in the event of an emergency and potentially leading to temporary water restrictions if the network comes under enough strain.”

To help achieve a summer free from water restriction, Mr Mason shared there were plenty of quick and easy things to do at home to help keep reservoirs filled, and water and summer flowing along nicely.

The biggest water saving efforts at home can be made when watering lawns or gardens, with residents encouraged to consider reducing their use of sprinklers or irrigation, and only watering late at night. This not only avoids the worst of the day’s heat and water being lost to evaporation, but also the busy morning and evening periods when water demand is at its highest.

Other effective tips include saving up to 20 litres for every minute cut from time spent in the shower, and the simple act of turning off the tap while brushing teeth or shaving to save another 10 litres in the space of a minute.

Another important step is to fix water leaks around the home and to notify Council of any on public land as soon as possible, helping to stop water that’s been treated, stored, and then piped across town ending up in the gutter and heading down a storm drain and straight back to the lake or river.

Mr Mason acknowledged little tweaks to how water is used might not seem like much, but collectively, enough people making one change at home would make a significant difference to the Queenstown Lakes District’s water supplies.

“We live in a wonderful but very hot and dry place over the summer months, and we’re fortunate to be blessed with an abundant freshwater resource right in our backyards,” said Mr Mason.

“But maintaining our water supplies isn’t simply resolved by getting more from the lake or aquifer; there is a significant cost associated with taking that water, and constructing and operating the additional infrastructure needed to treat it, store it, and deliver it to taps around the district.”

“We’ve all been or seen that person with the sprinkler blasting at midday, or the broken irrigation that’s just spent three hours watering a nearby road or footpath. It’s not the water we’ve got, it’s how we’re using it,” said Mr Mason.

Currently, the Queenstown Lakes District is one of the biggest water consumers in Aotearoa New Zealand with individuals using an average of 501 litres per day, which is estimated to be more than double the national average.

Residents and visitors can check out a range of tips and tricks to play their part and help save water at home at www.qldc.govt.nz/save-water.

ENDS | KUA MUTU.

Media contact: communications@qldc.govt.nz or call 03 441 1802.

FURTHER INFORMATION | Kā pāroko tāpiri

More information on how to save water this summer can be found at www.qldc.govt.nz/save-water.

Queenstown Lakes District water statistics:

·        Our water network is made up of 12 treatment plants, 34 pump stations, and over 680km of pipes that deliver drinking water to the taps of over 17,000 properties.

·        On average, we use an eyewatering 501 litres of water per person every single day. That's more than double the estimated national average.

·        In 2024, the month with the most water used in the Queenstown Lakes District was February, resulting in an average of 688 litres per person each day that month.

·        One of the main sources of Council’s greenhouse gas emissions is from the construction of water supply infrastructure, and the energy required to filter, heat, and pump water to households.

Fast facts about common water users in the home:

·        Flushing the toilet can use up to 6 litres of water

·        Running the tap for one minute can use up to 10 litres of water

·        A garden sprinkler can use up to 17 litres of water a minute

·        A shower can use up to 20 litres of water a minute

·        Running the dishwasher can use between 14 and 25 litres of water

·        Running a bath can use up to 90 litres of water

·        Using the washing machine can use between 50 and 135 litres of water

How do water restrictions work?

QLDC continuously monitors water production versus how much is being taken from reservoirs across the district. If a general trend is spotted where water is being used faster than it can be produced, treated, and stored, temporary restrictions may be put in place for people connected to Council’s potable water supply. Here’s how the different water alert levels work:

·        Water alert level 0: No water restrictions, but please use water wisely at all times.

·        Water alert level 1: Hand-held hosing kept to a minimum at any time. Sprinklers only from midnight to 6.00am.

·        Water alert level 2: Hand-held hosing kept to a minimum at any time. No sprinklers at any time, and no contractor water takes.

·        Water alert level 3: No use of outside water systems, no sprinklers or hand-held hoses at any time, and no contractor water takes.

More information on water restrictions is available at www.qldc.govt.nz/water-restrictions.