In summer, we keep a close eye on the levels of the rivers and streams that feed our water supply, as well as the weather and other indicators such as soil moisture levels. Water is not an unlimited resource, and there are limits on how much we can take. 

Despite the rain this weekend we’ve certainly noticed it heating up, and NIWA has forecast a hotter than usual November-January. You can see in the map below that soil moisture levels in our district are also looking pretty low compared to historical averages and this time last year.

This week we’re moving to level 1 water restrictions, a good first step we can build on as needed to make sure everyone has enough water over summer.

Level 1 means adjusting any sprinklers to go between 6-8am and 6-8pm. Watering by hand can still be done at any time but avoiding the middle of the day can make the most of your water by minimising evaporation.

Make sure to check out mpdc.nz/water for FAQs on water restrictions and water conservation.