Ashburton District Council is reminding residents that Level 2 water restrictions remain in effect as hot weather returns to Mid Canterbury.

Cooler temperatures and consistent rain saw water demand drop over the Christmas period and the Council is encouraging residents to maintain those good watering habits as the heat ramps back up.

Level 2 restrictions don't apply to essential use, such as drinking, cooking and showering. However, watering the lawn or garden must only be done with hoses, sprinklers, or irrigation systems between 6pm and midnight on assigned days. For the larger urban areas, this means:

• Even-numbered addresses water on even dates.
• Odd-numbered addresses water on odd dates.

For assigned days in other areas and townships, check the table below.

Why are restrictions required?

The restrictions are designed to help maintain water pressure and service levels during peak demand and keep Ashburton under the 25,000 cubic metre daily water take limit specified within our resource consent.

Despite a common misconception, restrictions are not directly caused by a lack of water, however the district’s water infrastructure can struggle to keep up when everyone uses water at the same time (typically in the evenings).

It’s hoped that if people water responsibly over the summer on their assigned days, there will be no need to escalate to level 3 restrictions which limits watering to handheld hosing.