Summer has come to an end without Hamilton moving into water restrictions, in a new record for the river city.
Covers are being dragged back over quiet backyard swimming pools and flower beds are booming. Lawns that are usually brown at this time of year are lush and green – but not from cans of grass paint.
The combination of water-saving habits, a cyclone, and plenty of unseasonal rain has kept the Waikato River and Lake Taupo levels high, and daily water use down. Peak consumption only reached 73 megalitres – or million litres – compared to 90 megalitres in 2022. Both dates were in January.
“Although we can attribute lower water use this year to Cyclone Gabrielle and rainfall over summer, without the water-saving habits of Hamiltonians we may be in a very different position,” said Maire Porter, Hamilton City Council Three Waters Unit Director.
“Early in the season we asked everyone to think about one simple habit they could adopt at home. They have found a range of ways to reduce their water use and continued doing so despite the weather.
“While we hope another cyclone isn’t on the cards for next summer, making these new habits your norm is a great way of ensuring we are being sustainable with our valuable and precious resource,” she said.
“As for myself, I’ll continue to turn off the tap while I brush my teeth and always use a trigger nozzle when using the garden hose.”