Aucklanders have saved a staggering 905 million litres of water this summer, thanks to their response to the ‘Easy does it’ campaign.

However, the region’s water storage dams have now dipped below 70% capacity for the first time since August 2021, as dry conditions persist.

Watercare’s chief operations officer, Mark Bourne, confirmed that the Waitākere and Hūnua ranges—home to the city’s 10 key dams—have experienced below-average rainfall.

The Hūnua catchments, which supply two-thirds of Auckland’s water, have received 20% less rainfall than usual, while the Waitākere catchments have had only half their normal levels.

A recent long-range forecast signals continued dry conditions throughout March, with a return to normal levels expected in April and May.

Winter could be wetter than usual, but current dam storage sits at 68.9%, significantly below the historical average of 79.4% for this time of year.

In response, Watercare has extended its water efficiency campaign and is actively managing supply.

“We’ve increased production at our Waikato water treatment plants and brought the Pukekohe Water Treatment Plant back online after flood damage,” Bourne said.

These measures are helping to slow the decline in dam levels.

Maintenance teams have also been working hard to reduce leaks.

Since December, 14,838 leaks have been reported, with 14,777 already fixed—leaving just 166 outstanding.

Meanwhile, Aucklanders have kept their water usage low, with a seven-day rolling average of 479 million litres per day, a figure Bourne described as “excellent for this time of year.”

While modelling suggests it’s unlikely that water restrictions will be required this year, Watercare is urging continued vigilance.

Aucklanders can track dam levels on the Watercare website, where data updates hourly.

For those looking to do more, Bourne suggests one simple action: shortening showers by one minute. “If everyone did that, we’d save around 20 million litres of water a day.”

With a long, dry March ahead, Aucklanders are being encouraged to keep up their wise water habits and continue making a difference.

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