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Kapiti Water
Quality Reliable Sustainable
24 Hour Emergency Number: 0800 486 486
General Enquiries: (04) 296-4700 |
The Council has a leak detection team committed to reducing leaks across the District. Its leak inspectors use audio equipment to detect the sound of water passing through the pipes and listen for leaks, which have a distinct sound.
There are two major sources of leaks: those which occur in the Council’s reticulation network and those which occur on private property. Some leaks on private property in the past have frittered away over 20 cubic metres a day, which equates to over 2000 buckets of water being wasted.
The Council is responsible for maintaining the mains and pipes leading up to your toby. Leaks in the pipework from the toby to your house are your responsibility to fix. If inspectors ‘hear’ water running when you are not at home, there is a good chance your pipes or fittings are leaking.
Where the pipework supplies more than one property, responsibility for repair may be shared by all the residents who get their water from the pipe. If this is the case, the Council will contact everyone involved, but it is a good idea for you to choose a representative.
What do I do if I see a water leak on the street?
If you see a leak in the street, ring the Council call centre or 24 hour number. You can help by describing the size and location of the leak.
Leaking water mains
Call the Council Service Department and provide as much information as you can including location, the extent of the leak (i.e. whether it is a trickle, a steady stream or a hole in the ground with water pouring out), and your contact details. The Council repair team will respond within one hour for a burst pipe and up to three days for a leak depending on its size and complexity.
Leaking toby
Shut off the toby as soon as you notice a leak. If the flow does not stop, it means the leak is on the upstream side of the toby and is the Council’s responsibility; call the Service Department for repairs which will be made within three days.
If the flow does stop, the leak will be located downstream of the toby and therefore be your responsibility; you will need to engage a registered plumber to make repairs.
What if the leak is on my property?
Leaks must be found and repaired as soon as possible. If repairs are not carried out quickly, the Council will serve you with a notice telling you to repair the leak within 14 days. If you do not repair the leak the Council will install a meter or a flow restrictor, although we will notify you of this in writing first.
If the leak has caused, or is likely to cause, harm to people or property, or if there is a risk of contamination, emergency powers allow the Council to shut off your water supply until repairs have been carried out.
If you have a leaking toilet or leaking fitting, the Council Green Plumber may be able to replace the washers for you at no charge. (This service does not cover ceramic disc taps).
If you have leaks in your pipes, you are required to use a craftsman plumber to make sure the work is of a professional standard. It may be wise to use a local member of one of the professional plumbing organisations, who will best know the local plumbing conditions. List the phone number of a local plumber and keep it handy in case a leak develops on your property.
You should get an estimate of the likely cost before asking for the work to be done. The Council offers a free consultation with the Green Plumber to advise you on specific points to discuss with your plumber.
What if the leak is coming from someone's property?
If you see a leak on someone's property, ring the Council call centre and we will investigate the leak on private property and work with the land owner to resolve the issue?