Consultation coming for options on water charges

NPDC will seek public feedback later this year on new options for how to charge households for water use, in preparation for mock billing in 2026.

Currently, households connected to the public water supply pay a fixed charge of $547 per year, regardless of how much water is used.

However, with the installation of water meters at residential properties to be finished by the end of this year, NPDC is looking to consult on replacing this fixed charge with a new charging system that encourages water conservation, supports vulnerable households and ensures the service’s financial sustainability.

On Tuesday the Strategy and Operations Committee (SOC) recommended that three options be put out for public consultation in June. The recommendations will be considered by Te Huinga Taumatua and community boards before the Council makes the final decision.

“There are a few ways we could structure how we charge for supplying water so we’ll want some clear direction from the community about which option they prefer,” says NPDC Executive Director CE Office Kathryn Scown.

“As part of the consultation, we’ll also seek the views of community groups who work with vulnerable people – such as water-users who are on a low or fixed incomes or have large families – so that we can get a proper handle on the issues and possible actions for them.”

The three options recommended for consultation by SOC are:

• A fixed charge plus a volumetric charge based on how much water used.
• A fixed charge which includes an allowance of water, plus a cost based on how much water is used above that guaranteed minimum.
• Fully volumetric charging based upon the amount of water used, with no fixed charge.

NPDC expects that most households will have lower water charges under the options proposed compared to continuing with the current method of charging for water, which sees all households paying the same fixed charge regardless of the amount of water they use.

Other issues that will need to be considered before settling on the final charging structure is ensuring the new system considers the specific needs of vulnerable customers, renters and commercial users.

How to charge properties that share a meter, what should be the policy for rates remissions when a leak on private properties has been fixed, and whether to change the current wastewater fixed charge to one based on a proportion of a property’s water charge will also need consideration.

“We’ll provide the community with a lot of information so that they can take a good look at the options before they give their feedback when the consultation starts in June,” says Kathryn.

NPDC’s plans to start mock billing for 12 months from 1 July next year to give residents plenty of time to gauge their water use and make adjustments, or fix leaks, before charging is introduced in 2027.

Read the agenda report here (see page 62)

Fast facts

• By the end of February 2025, NPDC had installed more than 22,300 water meters at residential properties – 78 per cent of the planned total installations.
• The water meters programme has so far identified more than 2,000 leaks around the district on private properties. The largest 153 have been repaired, saving 1.62 million litres of water per day (four per cent of the district’s average use).
• NPDC’s four water supplies are connected to just under 28,000 homes and businesses.
• New Plymouth District’s water consumption is 1.5 to 2 times higher than in comparable communities, averaging 690 litres per household connection per day.