About Our Water

Water – the lifeblood of the Kapiti Coast

For around 700 years, people living on the Kapiti Coast have enjoyed the region’s rich marine, coastal, wetland and forest resources.  The beautiful Otaki and Waikanae rivers have brought plenty of clean, clear water down from the Tararua Ranges for our people, animals and plants.

Over time, more and more people have come to appreciate the beautiful lifestyle the coast has to offer - in fact, the rate of growth of the Kapiti Coast District is amongst the highest in New Zealand.  This increase in the population on the Kapiti Coast has put considerable pressure on one of our most precious resources: our water.

A reliable supply of water is key to the wellbeing of our region and in January 2003, Kapiti Coast District Council adopted a Sustainable Water Use Strategy.  The strategy has a 50 year focus and is concerned with reducing demand for water, while investing in new infrastructure for the supply of water to the community.

The goals as outlined in the Sustainable Water Use Strategy were further refined in the Kapiti Coast District Council 2009 Community Plan.  Large sections of the community contributed to the development of this plan, reflecting the importance people on the coast attach to this issue.  Tangata whenua, through Council partner Te Whakaminenga o Kapiti, said:  “Water is a valuable and important natural resource [that is] fundamental to future development management on the Kapiti Coast.”

The focus for water is now on two major goals. 

• The first concerns additional water supply and storage. The challenge is substantial, with many environmental, social, cultural and financial issues to be considered. Overall quality, taste and smell of water are also of major importance. The community is currently being consulted on what criteria should be applied when selecting options for the additional water supply and storage. A technical advisory group of local residents, all experts in their fields, has also been established to peer review the process and technical aspects of the Supply Capacity solution. Construction of relevant infrastructure is expected to proceed in 2012/13 for completion by 2015. 
• The second goal is the reduction of water use to a peak target of 400 litres per person per day. “Litres per person per day” is a common measure that is an average figure for all users, including businesses, industry, schools, hospitals, councils etc. Whilst this amount is generous by New Zealand standards, the challenge faced by the district is considerable: peak use across the district currently stands at around 650 litres per person per day. In the crucial Paraparaumu/Raumati/Waikenae catchment, for which additional supply is required, the peak use in 2008/09 summer was around 525 litres per person per day (Paraparaumu/Raumati) and around 755 litres per person per day (Waikanae). These usage figures include an amount of UFW or ‘unaccounted for water’ – water lost in large reticulation systems. The target set for peak consumption excludes UFW.

A number of practical Council initiatives on water are already available to the community, such as the Green Plumber, the Green Gardener and the Kapiti Coast Sustainable Home and Garden Show.  During the summer months, water is saved through water usage restrictions, and new regulations also help to conserve water – for example, most new properties are now required to have rainwater tanks and greywater reuse.

There are many factors to be considered as Council embarks on realising the region’s water goals.  Some of these do not relate just to our region – for example, new Drinking Water Standards regulations have been introduced recently for the whole of New Zealand.  Council is committed to consider all factors and work with the people of the Kapiti Coast district to carefully assess all options for our way forward before any final decisions are made. 

Our water is precious.  Let us work together to ensure all people in the district have reliable access to clean water, now and in the future.