Auckland’s water supply is currently stable. By ‘stable’ we mean that we have sufficient water to get through the near to medium term. With our water storage dams in a good position, we have increased the proportion of water we are taking from them to supply Auckland.
Use it but don't waste it!
Even though our water supply is stable, water should not be wasted. With Auckland being a coastal city, water can often seem like it is abundant, but tap water is not an infinite resource. As our population grows, the demand for tap water is rising. Auckland is projected to grow at a rate of 1.8 per cent per year, with approximately 6,000 new residential water connections per year. Add to that the impacts of climate change: Over the coming years, our region will face increasing extreme weather conditions. That, along with a rise in demand for water during hot and dry periods, will put our water supply under strain. While we are focusing on delivering infrastructure that enables us to meet our population’s needs, new infrastructure costs money and its construction has an impact on community wellbeing as well as the environment. We’re asking everyone to be mindful of their water use so we can make the most of our existing infrastructure, you can save money on your water bill, and we can all conserve this precious resource.
Together, we can achieve water efficiency
Unlike previous water efficiency plans, our 2021-2025 plan has a different purpose. Rather than seeking to achieve our water efficiency target as a means to defer investment in a new source, we instead want Aucklanders and the local environment to thrive. If we use and re-use water wisely while reducing wastage, this is achievable.
By partnering with local communities, we want residential water use to reduce from 510 litres per connection in 2021 to 481 litres per connection in 2025. We’re on the right track, we just need to keep going. Our water efficiency microsite details the plan, the work we’re doing as a company, our commercial and residential targets and what we can achieve together.
Click here to read more.