Water New Zealand Web Forum

[Oscar]

Hi All
We've had a couple of enquiries lately from people looking to have their sections taken off the Council water and/or wastewater reticulation in an effort to be "Green"/self-sufficient. Both recent examples have been standard residential lots in holiday towns. While we are confident in our rights and statutory obligations, I am interested to hear from anyone out there who has fielded similar requests and the stance you have taken towards them. I suspect such requests will become more commonplace, for us at least.

Thanks

Oscar Smit
Assets Engineer - Water and Wastewater
Waitaki District Council
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Oscar Smit
Assets Engineer - Water and Wastewater
Waitaki District Council

[WTRBOY]

Disonnection from water hard to stop but property would still need to comply with Building Act and have adequate supply of potable water (a tank would be OK but may need a consent). Isolated cases would not be a problem but if becomes more common Council may need to consider a rate on properties with access to water even if not connected to recover standing costs. Justification is fire protection and availability of water that enhances value of property but Greens will oppose. This is largely a funding issue but does generate issues for long-term cpacity planning

With wastewater I believe option still exists to rate serviced properties even if not connected. Property will need new consent for on-site system which may be difficult to achieve on smaller sites - and at $15-20k why would you bother. Isolated sites should not be a problem but a number of sites in an area may lead to greater cumulative enviromental (and neighbour) problems and require more active position by Council to oppose on-site solutions. This is a funding, environmental and long term capacity planning issue.

[PeterR]

I guess there is a balance which will need to be struck between rates/charges and those of us who have on-site water collection and WWT units. Admittedly I am in an area designated "Rural Residential" where we are required to deal with all our stormwater and wastewater on-site. We do have Council water at the gate, but we have not hooked up to this (and I agree that a small charge for the ability to do this if we wish is appropriate).

If a large number of properties in an urban area, Hamilton for example, were to install rainwater harvesting systems then this would reduce (NB: not eliminate) the need for both stormwater run-off and treated potable water supply. Thus easing pressure on Rates. Some overseas cities, eg in Australia, are allowing credits of various types for installation of rainwater harvesting systems.

So making it easier (and I'm not aware of any Councils who supply manuals or other enabling for this type of thing) for the future should be where we are going, not trying to put roadblocks in place to prevent it from happening.

PeterR