Water Usage

Manawatu District residents use about 3.2 million cubic metres of water each year - that's about 260 litres per person each day. The Council manages a number of water treatment plants and also maintains, upgrades and renews the water network.

The network spans:

  • 165 km of pipes
  • 12 reservoirs
  • 7,328 domestic connections

Water Restrictions

The Manawatu District Council does not enforce all-year-round restrictions on sprinklers and garden hoses, but it does encourage prudent use and water conservation.

Water Conservation Tips

When it comes to conserving water, every drop counts - did you know that a dripping tap can waste up to 90 litres of water a day?

Here are some easy things you can do to help conserve our water:

  • Turn taps off while you shave or brush your teeth
  • Run your dishwasher only when it's full
  • Turn your taps off properly and repair dripping taps
  • Store drinking water in the fridge instead of running the tap cold

Watering Your Garden

Manawatu’s highest water use happens in the summer when more water is used outside, particularly on gardens. We encourage you to water your gardens during the cooler times of the day.

The following tips will help make water go farther:

  • Check soil moisture. If your soil is moist 10 centimetres below the surface, you won't need to water it.
  • Water close to the ground at a rate the soil can absorb.
  • Use a sprinkler. Established plants should only need 30 minutes watering once or twice a week in dry weather.
  • Use mulch. Mulch protects your soil from the drying effects of wind and sun, and it can cut evaporation by 70 percent.

Drinking Water Precautions

The Ministry of Health recommends you flush a cup of water from your drinking water taps each morning. The softness of New Zealand water is associated with leaching of metals such as lead from plumbing fittings. Flushing your taps helps to remove these metals. Although the health risk is small, all households should follow this simple precaution.

Plugging Leaks

We are serious about saving water and actively looks for street leaks. As a Council we respond to about 2,500 calls annually to fix leaks and other water problems.

If you see water leaking from a hydrant, a toby (your main water shut off valve), or anywhere else, please contact our team.