Summer Water Restrictions Start This Sunday With Daylight Saving
by Tiaki Wai · SCOOPHouseholds in Wellington City, Porirua City and Hutt City move to Level 1 Water Restrictions from 12.01am this Sunday, 27 September 2026. They join Upper Hutt City, which chooses to stay at Level 1 all year round.
Level 1 Water Restrictions mean households can use sprinklers and irrigation systems only every second day, in the early morning and late evening. Those in even-numbered houses can use them on even-numbered days, but only between 6–8am and 7–9pm. The same applies to those in odd-numbered houses on odd-numbered days. Households can use handheld watering devices, including hoses, on any day, at any time, as long as they are not left unattended.
Tiaki Wai, the region’s new water services provider, says water restrictions routinely start each summer with daylight saving. Chief Operating Officer Charles Barker says small actions make a difference.
“Using water wisely now helps reduce the risk of tighter restrictions later if there is a long, hot, dry summer. Alternate-day restrictions help spread the demand across the network and reduce pressure on the supply.
“We can only store a limited amount of water in the Macaskill Lakes and the Waiwhetū aquifer for the drier periods, when demand increases and there is less water available from the Orongorongo, Te Awa Kairangi/Hutt and Wainuiomata rivers that supply our region.
“What we can do is manage the available water carefully to make sure we all have enough to get through summer and keep working to tackle the leaks from our ageing water network.
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“Because Tiaki Wai now owns and manages water services across the whole region, we are getting to work to build the resilient network we need for the future,” Mr Barker says.
Tiaki Wai is working with Earth Sciences New Zealand to assess the extent to which the forecast El Niño climate conditions could make the Wellington region hotter and drier this summer.
“If conditions do become very dry, we may need to move to a higher level of water restrictions. If we went to Level 2, sprinklers and irrigation systems would not be allowed but households could still water gardens using handheld devices, including hoses, on any day, at any time. We have not needed restrictions higher than Level 2 in the last decade.
“We will be publishing forecasts and other information as we go through the summer, to explain what the risk of higher water restrictions is, when we expect demand to be at its highest, and how consumption is tracking," Mr Barker says.
Everyone can help to save water
- Fix any leaky taps or other leaky fixtures on your property.
- Follow the water restrictions for your area.
- Take shorter showers and look for other ways to save water.
Smart ways to water the garden
- Deep soak: A thorough watering once or twice a week encourages strong root growth and drought resilience.
- Direct the flow: Use drippers or directional sprinkler heads to ensure water goes only where it’s needed – not on paths or fences.
- Mulch your garden: Mulching can reduce evaporation and cut the need for watering by up to 70%.
About Tiaki Wai
Tiaki Wai means caring for water.
Tiaki Wai is the water services provider delivering safe, reliable, and sustainable drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services to around 155,000 homes and businesses across Wellington, Porirua, Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt.
We are responsible for over 6,800 km of pipelines, four drinking water treatment plants, four wastewater treatment plants, 140 drinking water storage reservoirs and 354 pump stations across the region we serve.
Tiaki Wai took over from local councils on 1 July 2026 as the region-wide, publicly owned water services provider.
Our shareholding councils are Wellington City Council, Porirua City Council, Hutt City Council, Upper Hutt City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council. Our mana whenua partners are Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika.
We are governed by a Board of Directors and accountable to our community through the Tiaki Wai Partners Committee of representatives from our shareholding councils and mana whenua partners.
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