Water restrictions for Queenstown Lakes
Queenstown Lakes residents are now only allowed to use sprinklers between midnight and 6am.
Water restrictions have been introduced as the district bakes under sizzling summer temperatures - hitting 30degC today.
The water alert level 1 restrictions take place with immediate effect, says Queenstown Lakes District Council Infrastructure Operations Manager, Simon Mason.
These require residents and visitors to:
- Keep hand-held hosing to a minimum at all time
- Only use irrigation sprinklers between midnight and 6.00am when general demand is at its lowest
Mason said local networks were seeing significant demand as a result of the sustained warm dry weather, putting pressure on supply.
"We have observed extended periods where water is being drawn from the networks’ reservoirs faster than it can be replaced, which obviously isn’t sustainable and can compromise the volume of water available to respond to an emergency, such as a fire or system failure," Mason says.
"By taking a few simple steps now everyone can help ensure that the network remains in good shape, especially with the hot weather forecast to stick around.
"We’ll continue to monitor the situation and will remove the restrictions once demand has fallen to more sustainable levels. I’d like to thank the local community in advance for their co-operation. We’ll be providing further updates when things change.”
More information about water restriction levels and why they are needed can be found on the QLDC's website including tips on how to help conserve water.
Residents and visitors are also being asked to check Fire Emergency New Zealand’s (FENZ) safety tool before lighting a fire or letting off fireworks, due to a heightened fire risk as a result of the hot and dry weather.
