WELLINGTON – As New Zealand’s capital Wellington reported its hottest January on record – 29.6 deg C – on Jan 22, residents are bracing themselves for tougher water curbs caused by century-old pipes that are now leaking.

As much as 45 per cent of Wellington’s drinking water supply – roughly the equivalent of 30 Olympic-sized swimming pools – goes down the drain literally every day, due to some 4,000 leaks from its ageing pipes, according to estimates from Wellington Water, the water services provider.