{"product_id":"saving-water-and-keeping-healthy-english-he3369","title":"Saving water and keeping healthy - English - HE3369","description":"\u003ch3\u003eInformation Sheet\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater shortages can occur during emergencies, droughts, natural disasters, or contamination of a water supply. In these situations, your council or water supplier may issue water restrictions, or a boil water, do not drink or do not use water notice. During such events, conserving water is crucial to ensure there is enough clean water for everyone to stay hydrated and keep healthy. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDrinking water should be treated water\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is important that drinking water is treated to make it is safe to drink.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn an emergency, \u003cstrong\u003etreated water\u003c\/strong\u003e for drinking is:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eboiled water\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ebottled water, or\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003etreated with purification tablets or bleach.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRefer to \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.taumataarowai.govt.nz\/for-the-public\/drinking-water-in-an-emergency\/stay-safe-during-a-boil-water-notice\"\u003eStay safe during a Boil Water notice | The Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai\u003c\/a\u003e for options on how to disinfect water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you are not sure if your tap water is safe to drink, check with your drinking water supplier. For most people, this is your local council. If you are on a private supply, you will need to arrange for the water to be tested.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eUse of treated water\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring shortages, use your drinking water for:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003edrinking\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ebrushing your teeth\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ewashing your hands and body\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ecooking\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003epreparing food, washing fruit and vegetables\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003emaking up baby formula and sterilising baby bottles and teats\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ewashing dishes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eUntreated water\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUntreated water like rainwater, bore water and water in rivers, lakes and swimming pools may not be safe to drink.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUntreated water can be used for other purposes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003epouring into the toilet to flush\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ewashing clothes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ewashing floors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ewatering gardens\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ecleaning cars.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eKeeping healthy during water shortages\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeep up your intake of drinking water, especially if it is hot. It is important for all whānau members to keep hydrated.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhen water is in short supply, keeping your hands clean is still important.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWash your hands with soap and safe water (treated, boiled or bottled) and dry before preparing and eating food, and after the toilet.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEach person should use their own water in a bowl for handwashing. Do not share handwashing water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSanitiser is not effective against gastro bugs like norovirus and hepatitis, so wash your hands with safe water, soap and dry well.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou can use sanitiser after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Use enough sanitiser to cover your hands, rub it in and allow to dry.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou can flush the toilet less, after a bowel motion (poo) only. Close the toilet lid after urinating (weeing).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShowering every second day is okay.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIf bathing babies every second day, wash their hands, face, ears and bottom on the alternate days.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou can also collect water in clean containers left in the rain. Make sure all rainwater is treated or boiled first.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWater collection tanks during drought\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTank water may run low during a drought. This poses an additional risk from contamination at the bottom of the tank. Tanks often have leaves, soil or debris from animals in the bottom of the tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis contamination can cause serious illness (for example, diarrhoea and vomiting), which can be particularly dangerous for infants, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDry weather can affect water quality. Keep roofs, gutters, screens and tanks clean to reduce the risk of contamination.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWatch water levels and top up from a registered supplier to ensure the water never gets low.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClean your tank before you get a fill up or if levels run low. Ideally tank cleaning should be carried out by tank cleaning contractors.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWater filters for bacteria and UV water treatment units should be regularly cleaned and maintained, especially when water levels are low.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA heavy rainfall after drought can flush greater amounts of contaminants into the tank and also stir up sediment – use a first flush diverter or boil\/treat water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIf you are unsure whether the water is safe to drink, boil it or treat it using bleach or water purification tablets. For water treatment options on how to disinfect water: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.taumataarowai.govt.nz\/for-the-public\/drinking-water-in-an-emergency\/stay-safe-during-a-boil-water-notice\"\u003eStay safe during a Boil Water notice | The Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFor more information\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTo make water safe during a boil water notice \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.taumataarowai.govt.nz\/for-the-public\/drinking-water-in-an-emergency\/stay-safe-during-a-boil-water-notice\"\u003eStay safe during a Boil Water notice | The Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFor more tips on saving water during a drought and simple things you can do every day to save water \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.taumataarowai.govt.nz\/for-the-public\/dry-weather\"\u003eDry weather and drinking water | The Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDrinking water information in an emergency \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.taumataarowai.govt.nz\/home\/incidents-and-emergencies\"\u003eIncidents and emergencies | The Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePhone Healthline on \u003ca href=\"Tel:0800611116\" title=\"0800 611 116\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e0800 611 116\u003c\/a\u003e for free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIf you are feeling stressed or anxious You can \u003ca href=\"SMS:1737\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003etext\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"Tel:1737\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ephone\u003c\/a\u003e 1737 anytime to speak to a trained counsellor for free.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"HealthEd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67533225525476,"sku":"HE3369","price":0.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0102\/6916\/3582\/files\/HE3369_22705f04-7af2-4c5b-bf69-5b3e738baaee.png?v=1792036723","url":"https:\/\/healthed.govt.nz\/products\/saving-water-and-keeping-healthy-english-he3369","provider":"HealthEd","version":"1.0","type":"link"}