Residents and visitors to Queenstown Lakes are encouraged to do their part to help save water this summer, using simple changes at home or the holiday house to safeguard water supplies.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) infrastructure operations manager Simon Mason said demand for water across the network was high, and despite a wet spring and a rainy start to summer, the forecast for the next few days is hot and dry.

“We historically see water usage skyrocket over the Christmas and New Year period, and as we move into 2026 and get more of those hotter, drier days we all enjoy, that sprinkler or hose at home is likely to be used a lot more to keep gardens green and lawns lush,” he said.

“Water is a limited and precious resource, but how we’re using it can become unsustainable very quickly in summer, putting our supplies at risk in the event of an emergency and potentially leading to temporary water restrictions if the network comes under enough strain.”

He said there are plenty of quick and easy things to do at home to help keep reservoirs filled - and help achieve a summer free from water restriction.

The biggest water saving efforts at home can be made when watering lawns or gardens, with residents encouraged to consider reducing their use of sprinklers or irrigation, and only watering late at night.

This avoids the worst of the day’s heat and water being lost to evaporation, and also the busy morning and evening periods when water demand is at its highest.

Other effective tips include saving up to 20 litres for every minute cut from time spent in the shower, and the simple act of turning off the tap while brushing teeth or shaving to save another 10 litres in the space of a minute.

Another important step is to fix water leaks around the home and to notify QLDC of any on public land as soon as possible, helping to stop water that’s been treated, stored, and then piped across town ending up in the gutter and heading down a storm drain and straight back to the lake or river.

Simon said while small tweaks to water use at home might not seem like much, collectively, enough people making one change would make a significant difference to the district’s water supplies.

“We’re blessed with an abundant freshwater resource right in our backyards, but maintaining our water supplies will never be a case of just getting more from the lake aquifer,” he said.

“Taking that water and constructing and operating the infrastructure needed to treat it, store it, and deliver it to taps around the district comes with a significant cost.

“We’ve all had or seen the sprinkler blasting at midday, or the broken irrigation that’s just spent three hours watering a nearby road or footpath. It’s not the water we’ve got, it’s how we’re using it.”

With water restrictions always a possibility as summer wears on and reservoir levels drop, signage was erected around the district to detail the different water alert levels and what residents and visitors are expected to do if restrictions are required.

Read more: Water alerts in place

Residents and visitors can check out a range of tips and tricks to play their part and help save water at home here.

PHOTO: Supplied