As we head into the holiday period, we're moving most of the district to level 2 water restrictions with Tahuna moving to level 3 due to increased pressure on the supply there.

Every year our water use skyrockets over the Christmas period. Families are home for the holidays, gardens are getting a hammering, pools are being filled and hoses are out non-stop. At the same time, our rivers and water sources naturally drop as the weather gets hotter and drier.

This means demand shoots up just as supply goes down. Our treatment plants and networks can only produce so much treated water at once, and restrictions help make sure we've got enough safe drinking water for households, healthcare and emergencies.

Here's what you need to know:

• How much water we can take is controlled by resource consents from Waikato Regional Council, which legally limit how much water we can take to protect the river and environment.
• When water source levels drop in dry weather, these consent conditions can restrict how much water can be taken, meaning that less water is available unless we conserve.
• We can not store huge amounts of treated water, so changes in river flow or demand affect our water supplies quickly.
• Level 2 means that sprinklers and garden irrigation systems can only be used on alternate days (even street numbers on even days, odd street numbers on odd days) between 6-8am and 6-8pm only. 

  Watering by hand can take place anytime but avoiding the hottest part of the day reduces the amount of water that evaporates which is good for the plants and uses every drop well.

• Level 3 means that hand watering (hoses, watering cans and buckets) should only be used on alternate days between 6-8am and 6-8pm. Sprinklers, garden irrigation systems, unattended hoses, unnecessary water blasting and other water use is banned.
• If you become aware of any water leaks, please report them to us via the Antenno app or by calling 0800 746 467.

Make sure to check out mpdc.nz/water for FAQs on water restrictions and water conservation.