and there are no restrictions in place
Why do we use water restrictions?
While water sources like rivers and aquifers are more resilient to drought, all water sources rely on rainfall.
During extreme dry spells that cause our dam levels to drop, we put in place water restrictions to ensure we are all using water wisely. When we’re in a drought, we don’t know when it’s going to end, so restrictions are a smart and proactive way of conserving water and minimising wastage.
Restrictions are focused on outdoor water use. This ensures there is enough water for our residential and commercial customers and means people aren’t letting their hoses run wild when water is scarce.
Our
Drought Management plan uses trigger levels based on the total dam storage level – and these trigger levels vary depending on the time of the year. They act as a guide as to when we should impose restrictions or move to the next stage of restrictions.
What we consider when imposing, lifting or changing restrictions
Before making a recommendation to Auckland Council to lift or change the restrictions, we consider a number of factors including current dam storage, expected water demand, the short-term weather outlook, and the likelihood of needing to go back into restrictions. Seesawing in and out of restrictions would create confusion and is something we try to avoid.
Click to enlarge the infographic and see the current trigger levels by season.