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Source: ONE News -
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People in the Auckland region who rely on tank water are being urged to watch their levels and plan ahead.
Demand for tankers is so high, people running low and making last minute orders could be left high and dry as waiting lists reach 12 days.
And Aucklanders are being told to rein in their water usage.
Tank users in other parts of the country are also being asked to watch their levels closely.
One couple in the West Auckland beach town of Piha are running on empty with their tank so low, the water has stopped flowing.
"We're having to bucket out and fill a reservoir just next to our pump...filling up jars of water and placing within the cistern of the toilet," says Mana Paowai.
They have been doing this day in, day out for a month, with their eyes glued to the weather forecast.
"We try and see what's going to happen...you see something coming and nothing ends up coming anyway, and then you wish that you had called up the company and ordered water," says Paowai.
The waiting list to get water trucked in to their coastal community is seven days and some have turned to the local campground, which runs on a bore.
"Mainly for washing, people getting low on water and wanting to do their laundry down here at the camping ground," says Fiona Anderson from the Piha Domain Motor Camp. She says people with small children "just want to wash them".
It's no wonder people put off having to pay for water when it costs $25 for the driver of a water tanker to fill it up at a nearby dam, but who then charges $320 to deliver it to a household 30 kilometres away.
Tank users can make the most of their rainwater by clearing spouting and gutters, but they are advised to regularly check the tank levels and to order water several days before they really need it.
Water carrier Jason Eagle says they get phone calls from people with small babies in the house saying they need it immediately. "Because we're out servicing other areas as well we can't do them straight away," he says.
And when it comes to water, you don't want to wait until you're down to your last drop.
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