Saving water and keeping healthy

Conserving water during water restrictions or shortages ensures there is enough clean water for everyone to stay healthy. 

During shortages, the priorities for water use (in the following order) are:

• drinking
• food preparation and handwashing
• showering and bathing
• laundry.

Keeping healthy during water shortages

• It is important for all the whānau to keep drinking water, especially in hot weather.
  Stay hydrated — Healthify (external link)
• Keep your hands clean to prevent illness. Remember to wash or sanitise your hands before preparing and eating food, after using the toilet, after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. 
• Continue to prepare food safely, clean dishes and kitchen surfaces, and wash fruit and vegetables. 
• If your hands are visibly dirty from activities like gardening, wash them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and then dry them completely. 
• If water is extremely limited, keep a bowl of clean water with disinfectant for handwashing, but do not share bowls of water. 
• If your hands have no visible dirt, you can use alcohol-based sanitiser. Use enough to cover your hands, rub it in and allow it to dry. 
• You can flush the toilet when necessary, for instance after a poo (bowel motion). Close the toilet lid after weeing (urinating). 
• You can also use untreated water to put into the toilet to flush it. 
• Bath your pēpi every second day. On alternative days, wash their faces, ears, hands and bottom. If they have a toilet accident, clean them as usual. Continue to wash nappies the usual way.

If you are not sure if our tap water is safe to drink, check with your drinking water supplier. For most people, this is your local council.

You can use bottled water or tap water which you have treated to make safe to drink.

For options on how to disinfect water visit the Taumata Arowai Services Authority website.

How to make water safe to drink under a boil water notice — Taumata Arowai Services Authority (external link)

Use of treated water 

While it is important to conserve water during shortages or restrictions, you should prioritise your drinking water for:

• drinking 
• making up baby formula and sterilising baby bottles and teats
• brushing your teeth
• washing your hands and body 
• preparing food, washing fruit and vegetables
• washing dishes. 

Untreated water

Untreated water from rain tanks, rivers, lakes or private bores can be used for other purposes: 

• pouring into the toilet to flush
• washing floors
• washing clothes
• watering gardens.