Kairakau residents have now spent nearly two months under Level 4 water restrictions, with strict limits still in place as the small coastal Hawke’s Bay settlement waits for its spring and bore to fully recover.

The restrictions mean two-minute showers, reduced laundry, avoiding dishwashers, minimal toilet flushing and no non-essential water use.

They were introduced on December 11 last year after months of unusually dry conditions pushed local water sources to critically low levels.

Central Hawke’s Bay District Council (CHBDC) says level 4 will be lifted as soon as it is safe, but usage must drop further and the local spring and bore need to show consistent recovery.

Central Hawke’s Bay councillor and Kairakau resident Brent Muggeridge said the community has adjusted to the restrictions, with demand easing since school holidays ended.

“People have understood what they need to do and they’re living with it,” Muggeridge told Hawke’s Bay Today.

“A lot of people came to me, and I just explained exactly why there were water restrictions and everyone accepted it.”

He said many householders had been taking laundry into town once a week, while the camping ground limited showers from 6pm to 8pm to stop daytime overuse.

“Everyone’s done their bit to help.”

The Kairakau camping ground, where water use is being closely managed under Level 4 restrictions. Photo / Rafaella Melo

Muggeridge and his wife have managed by switching to their rainwater tank.

“We’ve had so much rain and the tank’s just been full all the time, so we’ve hardly been drawing off the municipal supply.

“My wife takes our washing into town or to our home at Ōtāne, so we just go in there and do little things that you’d normally do at the beach, like showering and that sort of thing.”

With holidaymakers gone, the beach is now mostly down to permanent residents, reducing pressure on the supply, Muggeridge says.

“There’s still the water restrictions and the water’s being tankered in, but there’s not the need for such a big volume to be counted in now. And with all that rain, the spring is running again, so it’s producing,” he says.

“Hopefully the bore will be up and producing pretty soon as well, and the water restrictions could be lifted in the near future with a bit of luck.”

Muggeridge said while the community was coping, the real test would be ensuring Kairakau wasn’t in the same position when holidaymakers return next summer.

“We can’t have it happening again next summer.”

CHBDC group manager infrastructure Mark Kinvig said multiple factors influenced the need for water restrictions, including the availability of water in the sources and extreme spikes in demand.

“For us to reduce levels, there’s a mix of things that needs to happen,” he said.

“Usage remains higher in the small community than is sustainable, and we need those levels to drop.”

He said council tankers have been supplying water to the coastal community when required.

“We have and will continue to educate the public about the importance of careful water use and highlight easy water savings tips such as only doing full loads of dishes or clothes, instead of half.”