Outdoor water ban looms

SCOTT HAMMOND/ Fairfax NZ

Renwick resident Peter Ball waters his garden.

Sprinkler restrictions are in place in Renwick and Picton, with an outright water ban looming if people do not curb their water use.

People in odd-numbered houses can only water their gardens with sprinklers on odd-numbered calendar days in the affected areas, while those living in even-numbered houses can use sprinklers on even-numbered days.

The water restrictions, which took effect yesterday, mean only one tap can be used to run a sprinkler system in Renwick and Picton.

Marlborough District Council operations and maintenance engineer Stephen Rooney said there was no limit on using handheld hoses, but residents were asked to be sensible with their water use.

"If people continue to increase their water use, if they ignore the ban and it gets drier, an outright ban may have to be imposed."

The same set of watering restrictions were put in place in Renwick in February 2014, March 2013 and December 2012.

The water limits in Renwick would be in place until further notice but in Picton it was hoped that it would be a short-term restriction only, Rooney said.

Householders, particularly those at Waikawa, might experience low water pressure during the restriction period, he said.

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Outdoor water ban looms