Order your water before it runs out

BY DENISE PIPER

Whangarei households relying on rainwater tanks are being urged to check their water levels before they run dry.

Water carriers are rushed off their feet after the driest three months since records began and customers may have to wait up to 10 days for a delivery.

Andrew Kevey, owner operator of Water 2 Go and Robson's Cartage, says he has 10 trucks delivering water each day.

"Everybody wants water," he says.

Always Wet Water driver Ron Williams says this season started very early and has been busy with waits of up to 10 days.

Customers with no water at all, especially those with children, take priority, he says.

Mr Williams urges tank users to keep a close eye on their water level.

"Some people have got no idea how much water they've got. I've arrived at places where their tanks are full but their pump's not working," he says.

Whangarei's water carriers fill up from the Whangarei District Council water supply with refill points at Okara and Ruakaka.

For 10,000 litres of water they charge from about $200 for residents close to town and up to $500 for more rural and coastal areas, with most of the cost for cartage and driver time.

Mr Williams says some days there are so many water tankers wanting to fill up they can wait for up to 45 minutes at Okara.

A Wastecare spokesman says the real demand will come in February and March if there is no significant rain, as more tanks run dry.

"February and March will be the real teller. Some people conserve water very well but even those who conserve exceptionally well will be running out if they don't get rain soon," he says.

He also encourages tank users to keep monitoring their water levels.

"Don't leave it to the last minute and expect instant service."

The district council is keeping a close eye on water levels in its dams and bracing itself for potentially critical water shortages in March, says water services manager Andrew Venmore.

Whau Valley dam is at 77 percent capacity and has had less rainfall than in the 1987 drought, where the dam dropped to 12 percent capa-city and water shortages were critical.

Mr Venmore says about 80 percent of Whangarei households are on reticulated water, with the remaining 20 percent on rainwater tanks or spring water.

The Ngunguru and Tutukaka area has the highest demand for water deliveries, he says, as there are no springs and no town supply.

The largest amount water carriers took in a day was 270,000 litres - the equivalent of a small town, he says.

Mr Venmore says while the council is considering restricting the use of hoses and car washing, it is very unlikely to ever stop water carriers from refilling household tanks.

"From a public health perspective it would be a very last resort - probably restricting the amount people take would be a first step."

But the council is urging everyone to start conserving water now, he says.

The Northland District Health Board is warning rainwater tank users to refill with registered drinking water carriers, who use the council supply, rather than a dam or creek.

- © Fairfax NZ News