24 hour emergency number: 0800 486 486
General enquiries: (04) 296 4700
The rate of growth of the Kapiti Coast District is amongst the highest in the country, placing demand on existing resources such as water.
The Council has sufficient water resources available to meet the public health and fire-fighting needs of the community at all times, but there is not sufficient water to permit unrestricted garden irrigation.
Water services provided by the Council are:
• continuous supply of potable (drinkable) water and water to fight fires
• responsible water-use advice and promotion
• 24-hour response to reticulation failures
• technical advice to ratepayers
• regular testing of water quality
• maintenance of meters, valves and hydrants
• location of water mains and service connections.
Kapiti has four water supply systems serving four urban communities (Otaki; Raumati, Paraparaumu and Waikanae; Paekakariki) and one rural area (Hautere/Te Horo).
The systems comprise:
• three surface water sources
• eight groundwater bores
• nine treatment plants
• eight pumping stations
• 12 service reservoirs
• more than 430 kilometres of trunk mains and distribution reticulation
• more than 3000 valves
• more than 2000 hydrants.
All systems are operated and maintained by Council staff with new work, renewal or major maintenance contracted out. Engineering design, tendering and construction supervision is also contracted to specialist consultants.
Any questions about the Kapiti Coast District’s water supply should be addressed to the Water Treatment Manager on (04) 296 4799 or at Kapiti.Council@kapiticoast.govt.nz.
Water Supplies
Drinking water standards compliance
As part of compliance with the Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand 2005, the Ministry of Health requires water suppliers to publish the following notice.
Ministry of Health – Public Notice
Some plumbing fittings have the potential to allow minute traces of metals to accumulate in water standing in the fittings for several hours. Although the health risk is small, the Ministry of Health recommends that you flush a mugful of water from your drinking-water tap each morning before use to remove any metals that may have dissolved from the plumbing fittings. We are recommending this simple precaution for all households, including those on public and private water supplies.
Karen O Poutasi (Dr)
Director-General of Health
This notice is placed by Kapiti Coast District Council with respect to the reticulated water supplies for its district.
For further information about the health implications of this advice, contact the Drinking Water Assessment Unit of the Wellington Regional Public Health Service, telephone 04 570 9002.
Raumati, Paraparaumu and Waikanae
The Waikanae River is the principal source of water for the communities of Raumati, Paraparaumu and Waikanae. Greater Wellington Regional Council’s Proposed Regional Freshwater Plan has made for more stringent conditions on take from water sources, including progressive restrictions on the amount of water that can be taken from the Waikanae River during low river flows.
Water shortages have been a problem for these communities because of excessive water use and the limited water supply available, so responsible water use programmes have been in place during summers since 1990. These incorporate education, publicity, water use restrictions, monitoring of illegal usage, metering of reticulation and reservoirs, and leak detection.
The Council has a number of bores which can be brought into service when demand exceeds supply available from the river. The bore water is good quality, but undergoes chlorination and treatment to remove iron and manganese before use.
After extensive investigations into options for a supplementary water supply for the area, the Council decided to construct a groundwater borefield in Waikanae to be ready for the 2005-06 summer. The supply is used to provide water on days when limited or no water can be taken from the Waikanae River, or if the supply from the Waikanae Water Treatment Plant is unusable.
Click here to view the Waikanae River Flow Monitoring data, collected by the Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Click on a link below to view documents related to the Raumati, Paraparaumu and Waikanae water supply:
Area Water Management Plan - Paraparaumu, Raumati and Waikanae
(38 pages, 344kb)
Waikanae Borefield Drilling Strategy
(24 pages, 271kb)
Waikanae Borefield Yield Report
(23 pages, 6mb)
Waikanae River Ecology Report
(34 pages, 1.3mb)
Instream Habitat Survey of the Waikanae River Using Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM) Assessment (Draft)
(30 pages, 538kb)
Otaki
The community at Otaki has three water sources: two groundwater sources serving Otaki beach and town, and one surface source on the Waitohu Stream.
Inconsistent and expensive to run, the Waitohu water treatment plant is currently out of service and the Council may close it permanently. During a severe water shortage in 2003, a booster station to bring water from the town to the Otaki plateau was commissioned instead.
The water from the Otaki bores will require additional treatment to improve its grading. There is also little storage available and, although resource consents allow for more water to be taken from the sources, the current pumps reach their limit when producing water for peak demand.
Click to view:
Area Water Management Plan - Otaki
(23 pages, 215kb)
Hautere/Te Horo
The Hautere/Te Horo area has a restricted water supply originally set up for dairy farming in 1981, although much of the land has since been subdivided into lifestyle blocks.
The water is supplied to subscribers in units, originally allocated on the basis of farm area. A unit is approximately 1,000 litres of water delivered through a restrictor over a 24 hour period. Consumers install their own tank and pump to provide an ‘on-demand’ supply. You'll find further information about Restricted Water Supplies further down this page.
The water supply comes from two shallow bores alongside the Otaki River. The treatment plant and reticulation were designed to provide only enough water to supply the units allocated, and the supply is already oversubscribed with a waiting list of people wanting to be connected.
The supply is not secure and the water quality has a poor grading, and any addition to the treatment process will significantly increase the cost of the supply.
Click to view:
Area Water Management Plan - Hautere/Te Horo
(14 pages, 186kb)
Paekakariki
Paekakariki is served by a surface water source with cartridge filtration. A borehole was sunk in 2003 to provide a supplementary supply.
Water grading is poor and the cost of additional treatment processes will impact on the community considerably. The catchment is limited and the supply is subject to summer water shortages, with the intake also badly damaged during recent flooding.
In its review of the Paekakariki water supply, the Council is awaiting the outcome of upcoming legislative changes which will affect the available options.
Click on a link below to view documents related to the Paekakariki water supply:
Area Water Management Plan - Paekakariki
(7 pages, 105kb)
Paekakariki Groundwater Bore Completion Report
(50 pages, 1mb)
Paekakariki Supplementary Water Supply: Review of Potential Surface Water Sources
(41 pages, 2mb)
Water Charging
Kapiti Coast District residents currently pay for their water by uniform charge, meaning the cost of water is the same no matter how much is used. Non-residential users are metered but water consumption of up to 350 cubic metres per year calculated on a pro rata basis is included in the annual charge for water. Consumption over this amount is charged for at a cost-based rate which may vary depending on area, and differ from year to year.
The current charging structure provides no incentive for landowners to repair leaks on private property, or to reduce consumption. Therefore, charging consumers according to how much water they use through metering is one way of conserving water.
The Council is has deferred the introduction of universal metering in 2008/09, and the issues of charging and demand management will be discussed during the development of the Long Term Council Community Plan 2009.
Since 1995 all new subdivisions have had manifolds suitable for the installation of meters rather than tobies installed and manifolds are fitted wherever tobies needed replacing. Over 5000 manifolds have been installed out of a total of more than 17,000 connections.
The metering of all non-residential properties including Council owned buildings, public toilets and reserves is well underway. This includes residential properties with associated commercial activities.
Metered Water Supplies
A metered water supply has a manifold with a meter attached to it, or a toby with a separate meter for older installations. Meters are read either annually or two, three or six monthly depending on water consumption.
If your water consumption has increased substantially since previous readings, you will be advised to check for leaks. Should the accuracy of the meter be a matter of dispute, the Council will have it checked independently. If the meter is found to be within ± 5% of the true value then you will be liable for the testing charge, otherwise the Council will pay for it and assess consumption based on previous or subsequent readings.
Click here to view the Water Meter Code of Practice (68 pages, 3.5mb).
If a leak is discovered after a high reading you may request that the Council make an allowance for the leaked water. Providing the leak is repaired promptly, the Council may assess the true consumption based on previous or subsequent readings and reduce the charges accordingly.
Restricted Water Supplies
A restricted water supply has a device known as a restrictor that limits water flow to a constant trickle feed throughout the day over a wide range of water main pressures. Each residential property is normally allowed one unit, which is equivalent to 1,000 litres per day ± 15%.
Any property with a restricted supply must install a tank and a pump to provide a pressurised ‘on demand’ supply. The tank must be large enough to hold two days’ supply of water, and ideally five. If you run out of water and the Council is called out to fill the tank, you will be charged for two visits to remove and then replace the restrictor. It is illegal for anyone but Council staff or their agents to interfere with the restrictor.
There are a number of areas that have a restricted supply, including:
• Peka Peka
• Hautere-Te Horo
• Waikanae Downs
• Nikau Valley
• the Pharazyn Estate
• the Camelot Subdivision
• Waterstone Subdivision.
Any new application for water to supply rural land that can be provided with water from the public supply may be permitted a restricted supply.
If a property is not yet developed, a water meter may be installed to allow builders to construct a house before the necessary tank and pump are installed. Once a tank is installed the meter will be removed and replaced with a restrictor.
Leak Detection
To ensure there are minimal leaks from the water reticulation network, it is metered in strategic locations and monitored to determine the location of any losses. Acoustic detection equipment is then used to pinpoint leaks and help plan repairs.
There has been concern from some people in the community that leaks within the reticulation network are responsible for much of the District’s high water consumption.
Until universal metering is installed, the Council is only able to measure minimum night time flows rather than leaks. These flows include leaks from the Council’s reticulation, leaks in private pipe work and appliances, legitimate night time use and illegal irrigation.
Based on experiences elsewhere, it is expected metering will reduce consumption by 15 to 30 percent, primarily as a result of property owners repairing leaks.
Click here to take you to the Managing Our Water page, with information about what to do if a leak develops on your property.
Strategic Direction
The Council has prepared a strategic planning document, Water Matters, which sets out the issues facing each community and their water options for the future.
Water Matters sets a number of short term objectives to ensure there is an adequate water supply for now, emergencies and the future, as well as ensuring that water systems are adequately maintained. Work is well advanced on all short term objectives.
Click here to read Water Matters (121 pages, 1.50mb).
Longer term objectives include universal metering as well as the provision of water supplies to rural areas; in its 50 Year Strategy the Council has already assessed the type and quality of water supply needed for these areas.
Waikanae Borefield
The construction of the Waikanae Borefield is a major part of the water use strategy for Kapiti. Combined with a sensible programme of water conservation projects, it means there is a sustainable water management programme that will take the District well into the latter half of this century.
No appeals were received against the Consent for the Borefield’s Resource Application at the close of its appeal period in November, 2004.
Click on the titles below to view the documents relating to the Resource Consent Application for the Waikanae Borefield:
Greater Wellington Regional Council - Officer's Report
(44 pages, 304kb)
Decision: November 2004
(34 pages, 247kb)
Borefield AEE (complete)
(91 pages, 9mb)
Borefield Technical Report (without appendices)(57 pages, 9mb)
Appendix A - Bore Logs
(36 pages, 1.8mb)
Appendix B - Well Completion Details
(3 pages, 461kb)
Appendix C - Step Test Results
(38 pages, 693kb)
Appendix D - Constant Rate Test Results
(18 pages, 310kb)
Appendix E - Settlement Survey
(17 pages, 308kb)
Appendix F - Water Quality
(46 pages, 4.2mb)
The Greater Wellington Regional Council has also granted consent for the continuing take from the Waikanae River for the next two decades, subject to a range of monitoring conditions designed to protect the River’s ecology.
Click on the titles below to view the documents relating to the Resource Consent Applications for water take from Waikanae River:
Greater Wellington Regional Council - Officer's Report
(469 KB, 52 pages)
Waikanae River: Assessment of Environmental Effects (without appendices)
(71 pages, 1.82mb)
Appendix A - Waikanae River Water Supply
(64 pages, 2.27mb)
Appendix B - Hydrology of the Waikanae River
(36 pages, 1.75mb)
Appendix C -Shallow Groundwater Invesigations and Results
(23 pages, 1.69mb)
Appendix D – Water Quality Report for the Waikanae River
(16 pages, 645kb)
Appendix E – Waikanae River Ecological Report
(34 pages, 1.33mb)
Appendix F – Consultation
(14 pages, 162kb)
Appendix G - Habitat Survey (IFIM)
(30 pages, 669kb)
Appendix H - River Mouth (Literature Review)
(18 pages, 321kb)
Appendix I - Integration of Effects
(23 pages, 749kb)
Asset Management
The Council’s asset management plans are supported by a computerised asset data handling system. They ensure that key services are provided in environmentally acceptable ways by establishing service standards and determining the funding requirements for water reticulation infrastructure.
The plans define service levels, emergency maintenance procedures, preventative maintenance programmes, infrastructure renewal, capital works programmes and a programme for improving the Asset Management Plan including condition assessment, critical asset identification and risk assessment.
A key issue for the Council is the proposed changes to the Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand, and the review of the Health Act to make the standards mandatory. The Ministry of Health has also tasked Regional Public Health with the grading of all water supplies, commencing with the Waikanae Water Treatment Plant.
In addition, the Council will have to compile public Health Risk Management Plans for each water supply, and the Local Government Act 2002 requires the Council to undertake sanitary assessments for all supplies, including privately owned ones.