Watercare urges Aucklanders to reduce water use in wake of torrential rain
Thursday, 9 March 2017
Water, water everywhere - and not a drop to drink.
Aucklanders are being urged to reduce their water consumption after torrential rain pummeled the region on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Ardmore Water Treatment Plant - which is sourced from four water storage dams in the Hunua Ranges - is treating 50 per cent less water than usual in the wake of the wild weather.
Watercare said dam water flowing into the plant post-storm contained a lot of silt due to slips and erosion, making it more difficult to treat.
**READ MORE:
* Kids evacuated from Hunua camp
Water quality had not been compromised, the council-controlled organisation said.
Auckland residents were being asked to cut their water use by 20 litres per day throughout March so remaining water treatment plants would cope.
Watercare chief executive Raveen Jaduram said the organisation's focus was on ensuring customers received water that was safe to drink, straight from the tap.
'We have had to cut back on the volume of water being treated at our largest plant in order to maintain this quality.'
He said the organisation was not enforcing water restrictions.
'We're simply calling for voluntary savings following an extraordinary and unprecedented weather event in the Hunuas.'
HOW MUCH IS 20 LITRES?
Twenty litres of water is equal to two standard 10L water buckets.
Water can be saved by cutting shower times, turning off taps while brushing teeth and only running dishwashers and washing machines when full, Watercare said.
'OFF THE CHART' RAINFALL
NIWA meteorologist Ben Noll said the volume of rain that fell in the upper Hunua Ranges in the 12-hour period from late Wednesday afternoon was 'off the chart'.
'According to NIWA's high-intensity rainfall system model, the volume that fell, 225mm in 12 hours, well exceeds what would be considered a one in 100 year event.
'And it's not over yet. We're expecting more deluges tomorrow and into the weekend.'