Grey water and water tanks

Council requires all new homes to install a greywater system and/or a rainwater storage tank. Rainwater would be used for toilet flushing and outdoor water uses while greywater from the washing machine and bathroom would be used for outdoor irrigation.

Council developed the Rainwater and Greywater Code of Practice Guidelines [PDF 2.29 MB] to help residents, building industry and real estate industry understand the rainwater and greywater requirements when building (or selling) a new compliant home.

Tank options

Council has developed performance standards for two acceptable water management solutions:

1. 10,000 litre tank connected to toilet and outdoors
   Suitable for properties with plants suited to Kāpiti conditions and want water to wash the house and car.
2. 4000 litre rain tank and greywater diversion
   A greywater system provides a constant supply of water for outdoor irrigation - Council only permit's systems that allow outdoor irrigation.

Requirement for an alternative water source

All new or relocated dwellings are required to provide an alternative water source for flushing toilets and outdoor irrigation, regardless of the size of the dwelling. This can include greywater or rainwater collected from the site.

If greywater is unsuitable, you will need to install a minimum of 10,000 litres of rainwater storage. This may require consents. Depending on site suitability, a greywater system with a 4000/4500-L tank may be an option. Talk to us to f ind out more.

Sites without access to Council services

Some parts of our district, for example Paekākāriki, do not have access to all Council services, and you may need to pay for private bore water, water tanks, and a septic system.

This may require resource consent, at an additional cost, from Greater Wellington Regional Council.