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Porirua Mayor Thanks City Residents For Water Saving Efforts
Date 10 April 2013
Porirua Mayor Thanks City Residents For Water Saving Efforts
Porirua residents and business community rose to the occasion over the past month, to meet the region’s need to use less water.
On March 16, 2013, a ban on outdoor watering was imposed on the residents of the Hutt Valley, Wellington and Porirua. The ban was necessary as the rivers and aquifers that normally supply these centres with water were running very low due to an historic dry spell, while usual water reserves were halved with one of two storage lakes out for earthquake strengthening. In addition to the outdoor ban, residents and businesses were asked to use less water than usual indoors as well.
Over that time, Porirua City Council’s engineers monitored the city’s daily water use and revealed some pretty impressive savings by the people of Porirua:
Up to 8 March 2013, under the usual summertime ‘odds and evens’ alternate-day watering regime, the city used an average of 339 litres per person per day. As water levels in the region’s rivers began to decrease, from 9 March a sprinkler ban was introduced and water consumption reduced by 23 litres per person per day.
After the total outdoor watering ban was imposed on 16 March and a region-wide call went out to save water indoors as well, the Porirua community took the matter seriously and went to significant lengths to contribute to the regional drive, resulting in a saving of a further 50 litres per person per day.
“I want to thank the people of Porirua for the huge effort they put in to save water over this record-breaking dry spell,” says Mayor Nick Leggett.
“That impressive 75 litre reduction per person per day over the crisis period equals one and a half fewer showers or half a load of washing,” he said.
“I’m very proud of the response of the Porirua community and want them to know that it was pure people-power that got us through, meaning we avoided having to resort to more draconian water rationing measures.”
Porirua City Council
www.pcc.govt.nz
"91% of
Porirua's residents say their quality of life is good or
extremely good"
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