Auckland drought: Dam water levels still low despite heavy rain

Monday, 1 June 2020

Further water restrictions were imposed as Auckland dams fell to critical levels in May 2020.

Heavy rain over the long weekend has done little to revive Auckland's depleted dams.

Water storage in the Hunua and Waitakere Ranges is at 43.5 percent, up from 43.35 percent on Sunday – but still 30 percent below normal levels.

The region has received less than half of the normal rainfall since the start of a drought in a November 2019.

Despite more rain, Auckland's dams in the Hunua and Waitakere ranges are still at dangerously low levels.

Auckland's dams received 16mm of rainfall on Sunday and 168.5mm over the past seven days.

Unprecedented water restrictions have been introduced to conserve water in the worst drought on record in the region.

* Auckland drought: Water restrictions breached 459 times, usage up 24m litres

* Auckland drought: Little sign of relief for declining water supply

Watercare wants to increase production in the Waikato River to combat the region's water crisis.

In February, the region marked 47 consecutive days with less than 1mm of rain, which is the longest dry spell on record.

If dam levels continue to fall, restrictions to conserve water could have 'serious economic impacts' according to Watercare's chief executive.

Dam levels usually sit at 76.85 percent around this time of year and water shortages have led to bans on outdoor water use.

Water consumption has remained low, with 366 million litres consumed yesterday, which is below the daily target of 420 million litres or fewer.

Over the past week, Aucklanders have used an average of 405 million litres of water a day.

However, residents have ignored rules to conserve water use, racking up 459 breaches in just ten days for things like washing cars and water-blasting driveways.

Watercare, the government body that manages Auckland's water issues, wants to increase production in the Waikato River to address the water crisis.

The River currently supplies 30 per cent of the region's water.

Last week, Hamilton City Council gave Watercare the approval to take a small additional amounts of water from the River.

This can't be acted on yet because an expanded treatment plan is not completely ready, and the river level itself is too low to allow the extra supply.

Watercare would be ready to take a further 25 million litres a day in August, but that would still amount to only six per cent of the reduced consumption goal of 400 million litres a day.

Water restrictions will step up if dam levels fall below 40 per cent with a ban on watering sports fields.

Further measures could involve big commercial water users being restricted from operating more than four days a week which would 'seriously impact on the economy', according to Watercare chief executive Raveen Jaduram.

Overseas, recycling waste water and turning salt water into pure drinking water has provided cities with alternatives to rain and river dependence for water.