Masterton watering ban in place

Piers Fuller Reporter from News of Wairarapa

Autumn may have arrived but rain hasn't, forcing Masterton District Council (MDC) to reintroduce a total garden watering ban.
The ban is triggered by low flows in the Waingawa River, the source of Masterton's drinking water.
Before this summer, Masterton had not experienced total watering bans for 10 years, but residents have responded constructively to the bans this summer.
Unsurprisingly, water consumption is highest when the temperatures rise and there has been no significant rainfall.
The maximum usage in Masterton was 17,492,000 litres on 23 January after temperatures had gone past 30 degrees Celsius for a few days prior to the first total ban coming into effect on 27 January.
Consumption dropped by 1,767,000 litres per day after the first full ban and 1,809,000 litres per day after the second ban on 10 February. That’s a saving of around 12 per cent.
MDC's Manager Assets and Infrastructure David Hopman said the council appreciated the conservation efforts of residents.
"We want to thank people for saving water. We know this is a difficult and frustrating time for gardeners, in particular, and we share the frustration with the lack of rain.
"No significant falls are forecast for at least the next five days but the council will, as usual, aim to ease restrictions when flows in the Waingawa increase."
The council is spending $1.6 million a year on renewal of water mains. In the 2018-19 financial year 3.6km of mains were renewed.