Auckland urged to act as 'good citizens' of the Waikato River as water take doubles
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Auckland mayor Phil Goff says he’s determined to reduce his city’s reliance on the Waikato River, with the recycling of waste water into drinking water an option. Watercare has been granted approval to double its water take from the Waikato River despite opposition from Hamilton, the Waikato River Authority and river iwi.
Water New Zealand's Insights and Sustainability Advisor Lesley Smith says purifying wastewater for reuse is something that could be considered to diversify water sources.
She says in New Zealand wastewater is recycled and used on golf courses or in horticulture use but not for drinking water.
"It's recycled into drinking water in places such as Singapore. If there are pressures on water supply, like New Zealand is starting to see, it's important to value fresh water and reusing wastewater is part of that.