New Kapiti homes must all have water tanks

Friday, 29 February 2008

Radical water-saving measures have been introduced on the Kapiti Coast as drought conditions again kick in.

All new houses built on the coast must either have a 10,000-litre water tank or a 4500-litre tank and greywater system for garden irrigation.

The move by Kapiti Coast District Council should mean that by 2050 more than 40 per cent of homes in the district will have tanks or greywater systems, with potential savings of more than a third of the present town water consumption, water use co-ordinator Ben Thompson said.

The change will mean no outdoor taps will be connected to the town supply and rainwater will be used to supply toilets, the laundry and outdoors. If tank water levels fall below 1000 litres, there will be provision for a limited supply of 600 litres of town water a day to top up rainwater tanks.

Greywater from the laundry and bathroom would be used for garden irrigation.

Kapiti Coast Mayor Jenny Rowan said the move put Kapiti at the cutting edge of water demand management in New Zealand, and meant a shift in thinking for residents.

'Our aim is to make the most of the water off your roof and the waste water from your laundry and bathroom,' Ms Rowan said.

The change was introduced at a time when the council was about to review how it managed water demand and supply, she said.

Frequent summertime droughts experienced during the past seven years prompted the council to develop a borefield as a short-term way of supplementing the town supply, but long-term solutions were still being investigated.

Possible solutions ranged from water meters, managed demand or dams and reservoirs to extend the district's supplies, she said.

'Making tanks or tanks combined with greywater systems compulsory for new homes is another step in the process. Future council work may also offer opportunities for retrofitting tanks and greywater systems in older homes,' she said.

Niwa spokesman Kevin McGill said Paraparaumu had received only 17.1 millimetres of rain so far this month, compared with the normal 56mm for the month. Soil moisture levels were becoming extremely low - the soil moisture deficit (lack of moisture in the soil) was recorded at 136.5 millimetres this week compared with the monthly average of 90-110mm.