Water restrictions have eased in South Wairarapa. PHOTO/FILE
Water restrictions have been lifted in South Wairarapa as summer comes to an end.
The district has moved into water restriction level 1, which is the least strict level and means residents can use sprinklers or irrigation systems on alternate days from 6am to 8am and 7pm to 9pm.
Handheld watering devices can be used at any time, on any day, provided they aren’t left unattended.
Wellington Water’s chief adviser of drinking water Laurence Edwards thanked residents for “doing their bit” throughout tougher restrictions over summer.
“Your efforts, together with some good rainfall, has enabled us to move down to level one more quickly than expected this year.”
Masterton and Carterton districts are under a similar water restriction, allowing garden sprinklers to be used on alternate days.
Meanwhile, the water restriction level for Pahiatua has been reduced from a total outdoor ban to alternate evening restrictions.
This means handheld hoses can be used on alternate evenings from 7pm to 9pm. For example, houses with an even street number on even nights and houses with odd street numbers on odd nights.
The total outdoor ban in Pahiatua had been in place since January 25.
Pressure on the Pahiatua water reservoir has reduced, and work on the water intake point at the Mangatainoka River can now be finished without having to further rely on water from the reservoir.
Because river levels are dropping, it was still necessary to keep saving water.
