You can’t manage what you can’t measure,” says Mayor Tracey Collis. For this reason, Tararua District Council will be installing water meters for properties connected to a Council water supply. “This is a big step towards smarter, fairer water use”, according to Mayor Tracey.

Council is currently investigating hardware and software, water charge options, and working on backflow prevention so that dirty water cannot come back into the drinking water network.

“There’s clear evidence from councils in our region and nationally that installing water meters leads to meaningful savings — in some cases, reducing water use by around 30%,” says Mayor Tracey. “It shows that when people can see how much water they’re using, they make smarter choices — and that benefits everyone.”

Right now, only around 11.4% of water users in the Tararua district have a meter — that’s 658 out of 5,787 connected properties.
For residents, measuring water usage means that people will be able to track water consumption more closely, helping to avoid wasting water and spot issues like leaks early. Residents only pay for water that is actually used, which is deemed fairer than the current system where everyone pays the same amount, regardless of how much is used.

The installation of the water meters will be rolled out over the next three to four years.
Although it is not confirmed yet how charging will be turned on, Council is likely to lock in a transition process to the new charging system which will be consulted on in the new financial year.

For Council, measuring water use is key to managing the water network more effectively. Water meters provide data that will help identify areas where water is being wasted or lost, helping to avoid expensive upgrades to the water infrastructure down the line. With accurate data, Council can better plan and allocate resources, ensuring water is available and affordable for future generations.

“If we can show that we’re using our water more efficiently, we may avoid needing to apply for consent for bigger takes in the future — and that means less cost to ratepayers and less pressure on our water sources”, says Mayor Tracey.
Water meters are important part of New Zealand’s current water reform efforts. As councils across the country work toward creating a consistent approach to water services, water meters will help ensure that the cost of providing water is fairly distributed, with high users paying more and low users paying less.
What to expect:

• Meter installations will begin at the end of this year and will roll out area by area
• Properties will be contacted in advance of installation
• Meters will be placed near existing tobies (usually at the property boundary).
• More information will be shared by Council in the coming months.