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Some of our facilities will be closed or operating with reduced hours for King's Birthday, observed on Monday, 1 June 2026.

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Water
Ngā aukati wai

Water restrictions

LEVEL ONE WATER RESTRICTIONS IN ŌKATO

Due to low water levels in the Mangatete Stream, water restrictions are in place in Ōkato on the odds-and-evens system. This means that hand-held hoses may be used at odd-numbered houses on odd-numbered days and at even-numbered houses on even-numbered days.

The use of sprinklers, irrigation systems and unattended hoses is banned until the restrictions are lifted.

For tips on how to reduce your water use around the home, visit Wai Warrior.

Different types of water restrictions

We use five levels of water restrictions depending on the time of year and any incidents in the community:

  1. Standby: conserve water notices are issued
  2. Total ban on the residential use of sprinklers, irrigation systems and unattended hoses. Partial restriction on use of hand-held hoses (using the odds and evens street address system).
  3. Total ban on the residential use of sprinklers, irrigation systems, handheld hoses and water blasters until the restriction is lifted.
  4. All customers (residential and commercial) are restricted to essential water use only. This applies to critically low supplies.
  5. Crisis: industry liaison.


Note: levels one and two apply to domestic use, e.g. all residential customers, and all non-commercial use at commercial premises (for instance, a business may not use an irrigation system or sprinklers to water grass or flowers that are not for sale). Normal and typical commercial use of water is permitted. All customers are encouraged to reduce water consumption.

Level one water restrictions are in place from 1 January to 31 March every year unless circumstances require the summer restrictions to start earlier.

Flush your taps each morning

The Ministry of Health advises that some plumbing fittings have the potential to allow minute traces of metals to accumulate in water standing in the fittings for several hours.

Although the health risk is small, the Ministry recommends that you flush a mug full of water from your drinking-water tap each morning before use to remove any metals that may have dissolved from the plumbing fittings.

The Ministry is recommending this simple precaution for all households in New Zealand, including those on public and private water supplies.

This advice is provided throughout the country.

Flush your taps each morning.

Page last updated: 11:02am Mon 25 May 2026

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