A look into our water services

Water is one of our most precious resources, and we can’t make more of it. Although water may seem the same to most people, it is managed in three main ways: drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater.

Drinking water is the water supplied to your home through the tap. While it’s safe to drink, it’s also used for many everyday activities, including showering, washing clothes and dishes, cleaning, gardening, and caring for pets. Drinking water can come from dams, rivers, streams, or bores, and is treated to meet New Zealand drinking water standards so it’s safe for households and businesses.

Wastewater is water that has been used and then flows down drains inside homes and businesses. This includes water from toilets, sinks, showers, baths, washing machines, and dishwashers. In the past this was often called sewerage, but wastewater is a more accurate term because toilet waste makes up only a small part of what is treated. Some businesses also produce wastewater as part of their operations, such as cleaning or manufacturing. These businesses are referred to as trade waste customers.

Stormwater is rainwater that runs off roofs, driveways, yards, and roads into outdoor drains and gutters. Managing stormwater helps reduce the risk of flooding. Rain is absorbed naturally by gardens, parks, and green spaces, while underground pipes carry excess water to nearby streams and rivers. During heavy rainfall, water may temporarily sit on roads. This helps slow the flow of water and prevents the drainage system from being overwhelmed.

Stormwater is also managed using features such as stormwater tanks, which hold water during heavy rain and release it slowly once rainfall eases, and rain gardens. Rain gardens look like regular gardens but are designed to store and filter rainwater before it flows into underground pipes.