The Hawke’s Bay summer is glorious, but it brings with it the inevitable challenge of keeping on top of your water consumption. For both home and business owners across Napier, Hastings, and the wider region, the twin concerns are clear: rising costs and the need to be responsible consumers of a precious resource, especially during dry spells.
You want to enjoy your property and keep your business running smoothly without the guilt or expense of excessive water use. At East Coast Plumbing and Gas, we realise that the biggest question you have isn’t if you should save water, but how you can do it.
We believe the solution lies in fixing the four most common causes of water waste.
1. The Biggest Hidden Problem: Identifying and Fixing Leaks
The single biggest source of water waste is often a leak you can’t see. A constantly running toilet cistern or a tiny split in an underground pipe can waste hundreds of litres a day. If you’re metered, that can directly hit your wallet.
The Fix:
- The Meter Check: If you suspect a leak, read your water meter, avoid using any water for a few hours (ideally overnight), and then read it again. If the reading has changed, you have a leak.
- Inspect Toilet Cisterns: Add a few drops of food colouring to the cistern water. If the colour appears in the bowl without flushing, you have a silent leak.
- Call a Local Expert: Don’t let a mystery leak cost you. East Coast Plumbing and Gas can quickly track down hidden leaks and provide lasting, professional plumbing solutions.
2. Rethink Garden Watering for Dry Spells
Watering lawns and gardens accounts for a massive spike in water consumption during summer. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice your landscaping, but you should avoid inefficient watering methods.
The Fix:
- Ditch the Sprinkler: Overhead sprinklers lose a significant amount of water to evaporation before it even reaches the roots.
- Install Drip Irrigation: Drip systems deliver water slowly and directly to the root zone, reducing waste by up to 50%. This is highly recommended for all Hawke’s Bay properties.
- Time It Right: Water late in the evening (after 6 pm) to minimise evaporation while the sun is out.
3. Upgrade to Low-Flow Fixtures (Especially Showerheads)
If your home or business premises haven’t had a plumbing upgrade in the last decade, you are likely using older, high-flow fixtures that are hugely wasteful. The shower is the main culprit.
The Fix:
- High-Efficiency Showerheads: A modern, low-flow showerhead can cut your water use by 40-50% without compromising on pressure. They pay for themselves quickly through reduced water and heating bills.
- Tap Aerators: These inexpensive devices screw onto most taps and mix air into the water stream, maintaining pressure but reducing the flow rate significantly. This is perfect for basins and kitchen taps.
4. Commercial Efficiency: Auditing Your Business Water Use
If you own a business – from a vineyard to a workshop – your water usage is critical to your operating costs. You need to identify where your biggest consumption is and target that area.
The Fix:
- Assess Process Water: Look closely at any water used in production, cooling, or cleaning. Can you reuse grey water, or use high-pressure, low-volume cleaning equipment?
- Urgent Toilet/Urinal Upgrades: Older commercial toilet and urinal systems are extremely wasteful. Upgrading to modern, dual-flush toilets or waterless urinal systems is one of the fastest ways to cut a business’s water bill.
Get Expert Help
Saving water this summer doesn’t need to mean shorter showers or a dead lawn. It means upgrading old, inefficient plumbing and fixtures. If you’re a Hawke’s Bay home or business owner ready to make lasting improvements, contact East Coast Plumbing and Gas today. We’re here to help you find efficient, practical, and cost-effective solutions to reduce your water consumption.
