Water retrofit service

We support the use of rainwater and greywater for outdoor irrigation. If enough households use onsite water sources for outdoor irrigation, our current supplies will meet the needs of our growing communities for years to come. During the summer months, outdoor water use (washing cars or boats, watering the garden or lawn) puts a lot of demand on our water supplies.

Since 2008, Council has required new houses in urban areas to install onsite supplies for toilet flushing and outdoor use.

However, for homes built before 2008, there has been low uptake of onsite systems (rainwater or greywater systems). One reason is the upfront cost. To address this barrier, Council offers the Water Retrofit Service to help make installing an onsite non-potable supply more affordable. Through this service, the homeowner pays back the cost of an onsite water supplies system for outdoor irrigation through a targeted rates on their property over ten years.

Solutions available

Legal property owners can apply to Council for up to $5,000 (including GST) towards an approved rainwater or greywater solution:

Greywater diversion device
Rainwater tank sized between 5,000–10,000 litres
Re-establish tank sized greater than 5,000 litres
A pump on rainwater tanks sized greater than 5,000 litres.

Council will not provide funding for:

the design/purchase or installation of irrigation systems
landscaping materials for rainwater systems
the installation of soak pits.

Households eligible for funding

The funding is eligible for households on the Kāpiti Coast where:

the house was not built under current District Plan provisions for new dwellings
the house receives unrestricted public water
the owner has a good rate repayment history
the property owner is the applicant, with their name registered on the title.

Application process

Council will visit your property, explain how the funding works and the responsibilities – both yours and ours. You will then need to complete the Water saving (retrofit) funding assistance application form[PDF 49 KB] and send it to us.

Council strongly recommends you obtain three quotes before going ahead with installing a system. Because Council will be paying the interest for this fund, we want to ensure the preferred option is reasonably priced.

We’ll need to inspect your property before and after the system is installed. This is to check there isn’t a system already in place, and that the system has been installed as per the contract.

Applications are generally processed within ten working days of the Council receiving them.

Repayments

You’ll repay the original amount paid to the contractors for goods and service.

Council is required to charge GST on all revenue it levies including rates. Council has to pass the GST on the original cost because the service is not for Council. For example for a project costing $5,000, the annual payment is $500 plus GST. You won’t have to repay the interest on the funding assistance.

Council will charge a “targeted rate” on your regular rates bill over ten years. This will be registered on your property Land Information Memorandum (LIM). The outstanding amount will appear on your rates bill around July each year.

The following table can help you calculate your repayments.

Council assistance	$5,000	$4,000	$3,000	$2,000
Extra annual cost on your rates bill	$500	$400	$300	$200
Council GST	$75 per year	$60 per year	$45 per year	$30 per year
Total per year	$575	$460	$345	$230
Extra weekly cost on your rates bill	$11.06	$8.85	$6.63	$4.42

Selling your house

The full amount is repaid through your rates, and this rate stays with your house. You'll need to tell the purchaser of your property about this targeted rate (this is usually through your solicitor). The rate will be notified on your property's LIM report. You may voluntarily repay this rate, or negotiate with the purchaser.