Auckland fails to save enough water again

For the second day running, Aucklanders have failed to meet the water savings needed to avert a boil water notice.

Large land slips into the Hunua water catchment during heavy rain last week has seriously reduced the supply coming from the city's largest catchment.

Watercare - the council's water company - wants daily consumption cut to 400 million litres a day.

The city's water use fell below 390 million litres during the weekend, but has risen again in the past two days.

Watercare's latest update revealed 409 million litres had been used in the past 24 hours, after 419 million was used the previous day.

Watercare chief executive Raveen Jaduram said Aucklanders were still using less water than this time last week.

"Auckland has demonstrated that we can reduce our water consumption without significant inconvenience. But as the weather improves and the weekend's storms become a distant memory we run the risk of forgetting the need to reduce water use."

He said Watercare was still dealing with 100 times more silt at its Ardmore treatment plant.

"So we need to remember every day to reduce our water use by 20 litres of water per person. Avoid the temptation to wash the car and ensure auto-irrigation systems are turned off. Aucklanders have shown we can do it and we've made great gains, we just have to remember to keep doing it."

Commercial customers has also been working to save water, with Z and Caltex service stations closing their commercial car washes across Auckland, said Mr Jaduram.

Meanwhile, water restrictions for the Hauraki District have been lifted.

Residents of Waihi, Waikino and Paeroa were asked to conserve water after last week's heavy deluge dumped silt and debris in the water supply.

Hauraki mayor John Tregidga said the community saved hundred of thousands of litres of water in two days and in doing so avoided serious water shortages.

He said reservoir levels had now risen to a point where further restrictions were unnecessary.