WATER CONSERVATION LANDSCAPING: A CENTRAL OTAGO PLANTING EXPERIENCE^©

In Central Otago, situated on the 45th parallel in the South Island of New Zealand, gardeners are struggling to come to terms with the increasing cost of water and summer water restrictions.
As energy costs rise, so does the cost of water.
Traditional gardening in Central Otago is a temperate garden model with trees and shrubs around a lush lawn.
As a result, annual water use in Central Otago is very high.
Figures from the Central Otago District Council show average winter treatment of water in 2011 was 2,800 m³ per day but this increased to 14,500 m³ per day in the 2011/2012 summer (R. Bond, pers. commun., 7 June 2012). The hot, dry climate means many people irrigate their lawns and gardens, and often the pavements.
During summer months more than 75% of the potable water supply (treated water) is used for irrigation.
The Central Otago District Council is installing water meters in the district to better manage demand for treated water, allocate the costs of producing water and protect the resource.
There has been considerable reaction to this move.

Proceedings of the International Plant Propagators Society – 2012

J. Wakelin

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2013.1014.7