Due to a significant increase in use, water alert level one restrictions will take place with immediate effect in large parts of the Queenstown Lakes area.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council said in a statement yesterday the restrictions required residents and visitors to keep hand-held hosing to a minimum at all times, and to only use irrigation sprinklers between midnight and 6am when general demand was at its lowest.
It is asking all of the Queenstown Lakes community to conserve water.
Council property and infrastructure general manager Tony Avery said local networks were seeing significant demand which, coupled with a lengthy period of warm dry weather across the Queenstown Lakes, was putting pressure on supply.
"We’re seeing extended periods where water is being drawn from reservoirs faster than we can replace it throughout the majority of the district, most likely associated with increased irrigation. This simply isn’t sustainable and puts our water reserves for emergencies like a wildfire in danger," Mr Avery said.
"We’re asking residents and visitors to take a few simple steps to help ensure our water networks remain in good shape, especially with plenty more hot and dry weather in the forecast."
Mr Avery said council would continue to monitor the situation and would remove the restrictions once demand fell to more sustainable levels.
"One of the most significant differences we can all make at home is around when and how we’re using irrigation, hoses, and sprinklers on our lawns and in the garden."
Water restrictions
Affected areas: Arrowtown, Arthurs Point, Frankton, Hanley’s Farm, Hāwea, Kelvin Heights, Lake Hayes, Luggate, Quail Rise, Wānaka.
