Water Restriction Levels
Please note: We are currently at outdoor residential water restriction Level 1. Level 1 applies all year round for Upper Hutt. Learn more about the water level restrictions and what they mean below.
Did you know that Wellington faces limitations in its daily water supply? During winter, when rainfall is abundant and river levels are healthy, we can provide approximately 220 million litres of water per day. However, in the hot and dry summer months, river levels decrease, causing our daily supply to diminish to around 170 million litres.
While this quantity may seem substantial, various factors contribute to increased water usage. Aging infrastructure with leaks, population growth, and the higher average water consumption by Wellingtonians compared to other metropolitan regions in New Zealand contribute to a fast accumulation, reaching up to 205 million litres per day in summer, depleting our stored water reserves.
The stored water is crucial for sustaining Wellington through prolonged dry periods, especially during summer when it's challenging to replenish the lakes. Unfortunately, as time passes, the water levels decrease, leaving Wellington with diminishing reserves until the next winter.
To ensure the prudent management of our daily water supply and demand, it is imperative not to exceed sustainable levels. This is where water restrictions play a vital role. They guide everyone on optimising their personal water usage, ensuring there's enough to meet essential needs and sustain the community.
To learn more about the water level restrictions and what they mean, please read below:
Water Restriction Level 1 - Use sprinklers every second day
Outdoor residential water restrictions start at Level 1. Water restriction Level 1 applies all year round for Upper Hutt and South Wairarapa (Martinborough, Greytown and Featherston).
- If you live in an even numbered house, you can use sprinklers or irrigation systems only on even numbered days between 6am - 8am and 7pm - 9pm
- If you live in an odd numbered house, the same rules apply for odd numbered days
- You can use handheld watering devices any time, on any day, so long as you don’t leave them unattended.
Water Restriction Level 2 - No sprinklers or irrigation. Only water your garden by hand.
All unattended watering systems are banned – ie. sprinklers and irrigation systems. You can water your garden by hand anytime, on any day, so long as you don’t leave your garden hose or watering device unattended.
Water Restriction Level 3 - Stop residential outdoor water use
There is a ban on all residential outdoor water use. Businesses can continue to operate as normal, but please be pragmatic and responsible when watering. Following Level 3 restrictions can reduce the risk of moving to Level 4.
Water Restriction Level 4 - Stop all outdoor water use, reduce indoor water use
Water Restriction Level 4 means there is a significant water shortage. At level 4 there is a ban on all outdoor water use, and we need to reduce indoor water use to ensure there is enough water for everyone. To help save water, people should stop all outdoor water use, take 2-minute showers, and limit their laundry use to 1 load per person per week.
For information on how to manage water usage, download our Water Saving brochure(PDF, 691KB) that supplies saving tips and how to store emergency water.