New Zealand Plans to Reduce Water Use

Auckland, New Zealand, despite ongoing population growth, should reduce its water usage by 15 percent by 2025, according to recommendations in a recent draft plan. The storm water, wastewater and drinking water management plan is being placed before councils and open for public comment.

Current demand is about 330 liters a day per resident. The plan said that the nation could save 10 percent of that by treating and reusing water and substituting drinking water use with other sources such as collected storm water and treated wastewater.

Jim Hodges, chief engineer for Watercare, the region's major water and wastewater service provider, recently presented the final draft plan to the Auckland Regional Council, noting that more efficient water use could mean more reasonable water bills and delay or defer the need for major infrastructure projects in the next 20 years.

The current plan does not involve substituting A-grade drinking water with treated wastewater, but pumping more water from the Waikato River and treatment plant expansion are some options being considered.

Source: The New Zealand Herald