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Auckland Council is looking at ways it can contribute to the restoration of water quality in the Waikato River as it seeks to increase its draw from the awa.
Mayor Phil Goff says after the driest summer and autumn in the city’s history, reservoirs are now at just 44 percent capacity.
He has been talking to not only the Waikato Regional Council and the Waikato River Authority but Waikato Tainui.
They don’t want Auckland to take more water if it affects the health of the river, but he believes this can be done.
"There’s a quid pro quo everybody in the Waikato wants for our use of the water. Our offer I think through Watercare is that if we are taking water from the Waikato, which we are at the moment and would like to take more, naturally we will share in the responsibility for improving the health of the awa. Watercare is already working on tree planting campaigns, giving professional advice etc, and think we can do more," Mr Goff says.
He says taking another 25 million litres a day from Tuakau will have an imperceptible impact on the river level.
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