Residents and visitors urged to reduce water use

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is encouraging residents and visitors to conserve water, as demand for the precious resource soars early in the summer season.

"We are seeing some incredible demand on water much earlier than usual," QLDC's Infrastructure Operations Manager Simon Mason says.

"For example, in Wānaka, draw from the Beacon Point intake has increased from a daily average of 5,000 m3 per day in June to nearly 18,000m3 per day this month, with a peak day observed in December so far of over 22,000m3 per day.

"Average per person usage was over 600 litres per day in November and this is set to increase further over December. This is significant, especially when you compare it to a national average of 229 litres per person per day."

QLDC is asking residents and those visiting the district to reduce their water usage to help avoid temporary water restrictions being introduced over the holiday period.

Current areas of concern include Wānaka, Hāwea, Luggate, Lake Hayes and Arthurs Point, but increased demand has also been observed at all of our water schemes.

"No one enjoys restrictions to when and how we use water, especially when the heat of summer really sets in. But collectively, small changes in how we use water can have a significant impact on keeping our demand for water in check," Mason says.

"The step change in demand that we see as we enter summer illustrates that usage is largely driven by irrigation. As such, the focus area is when and how we water our lawns and gardens.

"One key change many of us can make is to water our lawns and gardens between the hours of 10pm and 6am, avoiding the typical peak water usage times, as well as the heat of day and reducing water loss through evaporation. Ensuring irrigation is targeted and volumes are appropriate is also critical."

Mason addressed the common question of water availability.

"The issue is not the availability of water - yes, there is plenty in our rivers and lakes. To provide this water to households, its pumped from lakes or bore supplies, treated and piped into reservoirs on a hill or other elevated site. From there the water is distributed via gravity through pipes to users.

"Our water supply schemes are designed for a calculated demand for each household, commercial and industrial site. Pumps, pipes and reservoirs are built to service that calculated demand. Our water systems come under pressure when the demand exceeds the available treatment and conveyance capacity. As this occurs we start to erode our ability to accommodate emergency situations and mechanical failures.

"We’re often asked why we can’t just increase supply. While that sounds like an obvious solution, the reason is at peak times some of our supply schemes are operating at their maximum capacity. Increasing the capacity would mean upgrading treatment plants, reservoirs, pipes and pump stations which would have to be funded by ratepayers. This raises the question of affordability and environmental responsibility when there is collective steps we can all take to reduce use."

Tips for conserving water can be found here: www.qldc.govt.nz/wai-wise

Water restrictions, if required, will be communicated via media release, social media and e-txt to those who have registered.

Core infrastructure upgrades complete for water supply in Wānaka and Glenorchy

Improvements to capacity and resilience of the Queenstown Lakes District’s water network have been delivered in Wānaka and Glenorchy, with Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) completing the construction of new reservoirs in the two townships.

QLDC Property & Infrastructure General Manager, Tony Avery said the additional infrastructure meant both communities would benefit from increased water capacity, which could prove critical in the event of an emergency like a wildfire.

“Council continues to invest in three waters infrastructure throughout the district, and the completion of these key projects will ensure we meet current and future water supply demands, while also providing for firefighting demands if the need arises,” Avery says.

“We’ve significantly increased the storage capacity at both the Beacon Point site in Wānaka and in Glenorchy.”

The new steel plate reservoir in Wānaka at Beacon Point boasts capacity for 5,500,000 litres of water, complementing the existing concrete reservoir tank’s 3,500,000 litres of capacity. The additional capacity also means older infrastructure can be safely taken offline for maintenance if required.

In Glenorchy, the two new steel plate reservoirs have replaced four pre-cast concrete tanks and increased the township’s water capacity from 90,000 litres to 500,000 litres.

Given the arrival of what promises to be a long, dry summer, Avery notes it was a timely reminder for everyone to continue using water wisely, regardless of the season or temperature outside.

“Summer is a thirsty season when it comes to our water network, and as warm and dry weather starts to make itself at home we need to continue treating water as a precious resource,” he says.

“Increased water usage can put a strain on our infrastructure and increase the potential need for temporary water restrictions, so we’re asking everyone to consider their water use at all times."

The construction of both reservoirs was delivered by Fulton Hogan.