FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Water Restrictions On West Coast

The recent exceptionally dry spell of weather on West Coast has resulted in excessive demand on water supply. Residents of Westland are reminded to conserve water and keep the usage to a minimum.

On Monday evening the township of Franz Josef ran out of water which is highly unusual. This caused the closure of many shops and facilities. Water supply was restored approximately two hours later. The township is now being fed from the raw water source which means consumers need to boil their water before use.

Franz Josef and Ross townships are now under full water restrictions. The use of portable and hand held hoses are banned and includes – no watering of gardens or lawns, no washing of vehicles, no filling of swimming pools or paddling pools etc.

Consumers of Franz Josef and Ross water are reminded that full restrictions are in place until further notice.

Three Waters Engineer - Petrina Cannell says “Hokitika consumers are also asked to conserve water wherever possible. If the situation doesn’t improve we may impose partial restrictions leading to full water restrictions. The reservoir levels are at 50% and we need to it to recover quickly to avoid restrictions.”

Group Manager Assets and Operations Mr. Vivek Goel urges consumers to be very mindful of their water usage to avoid any restrictions.

Some helpful tips on how to conserve your water:

- Only use the washing machine or dishwasher when full i.e. no half washes

- Place a bucket under the shower while waiting for the water to warm up. This water can then be used to water plants.

- Don’t leave taps running i.e. when brushing teeth

- Have a shower instead of a bath where applicable

- Fix any internal water leaks and dripping taps

Any water leaks should be reported to the Westland District Council immediately on 03 756 9010

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