Auckland drought: Watercare's chief executive says restrictions could end soon

Wednesday, 16 September 2020

Watercare chief executive Raveen Jaduram on possibly lifting water-use restrictions

The head of Auckland Council’s water company believes an improving prognosis for the drought-hit water supply means restrictions on use could be lifted soon, rather than run until mid-next year.

Raveen Jaduram said Aucklanders’ success at cutting consumption, combined with additional supplies coming on stream and a slightly improved weather forecast, support an end to hose bans.

Watercare will on Thursday meet behind closed doors with councillors who control the by-law behind the restrictions.

The outgoing chief executive of Watercare has defended his organisation’s handling of supply through two record dry spells in consecutive years, saying it met the standard required of it.

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Jaduram said the standard of water supply security required to be met was to handle a one-in-100 year drought.

Watercare chief executive Raveen Jaduram will leave the organisation in October.

“If the standard was a drought-proof water supply system then it would be correct that we did not build the infrastructure needed, but because we’re driven by a certain standard, we have done well,” he said.

“What we’ve got caught out by, is that [restrictions] are not what it seems our customers, and definitely our politicians want – or some politicians.

“We are very comfortable from the standard point of view that we have got the capacity and we have invested correctly.”

Watercare is spending $224 million over the next 10 months adding local water sources, but mostly on building a new treatment plant to boost supply from the Waikato River.

Jaduram said there needs to be a “bigger, broader, deeper, wider conversation” about Auckland’s drought security standard.

“Auckland Council is supposed to prepare a water strategy, and [it] started in 2018 and we were involved – unfortunately in 2019 it stopped for some reason so we don’t have a water strategy.”

Watercare took water from Western Springs lake for use by commercial users not needing drinking-standard water.

That work is re-starting and Auckland Mayor Phil Goff has acknowledged the lack of strategy has not helped.

Jaduram said long-term issues include not only whether and how additional supplies should be found, but how Auckland uses water, such as whether tanks for urban homes should be more widespread.

After a dry summer and autumn, Auckland’s supply lakes recovered from a May low of 42 per cent full to 67.5 per cent, versus a norm of 90.

Forty-two per cent of total demand is being met from the Waikato River.

Jaduram said additional supply now available from the river, along with boosts going live by Christmas from smaller local sources at Pukekohe, Papakura and Onehunga would total an extra 40 million litres daily.

“We will have to make sure that our messaging is still strong.

“The drought has not finished, the forecast is still for a dry spring, so it’s very important the customers are aware the problem has not gone away.”

Aucklanders were asked to each voluntarily save 20 litres a day and have achieved 30-35 litre savings.

Jaduram said Watercare was aware of the restrictions’ impact on small businesses such as external cleaning companies and plant nurseries, and admitted it had not understood how they would be hit.

“We have to be mindful of their needs and livelihoods, while making sure we don’t put at risk all of Auckland, so it's always a balancing exercise.”

Watercare’s board will first consider the case for lifting restrictions, before taking the idea to Auckland Council’s governing body which approved the imposition of unprecedented, low-level outdoor bans.