Water

Water Meters

Our goal: saving water

Part of NPDC’s water conservation programme includes adding water meters to all residential homes in New Plymouth District.

Our drinking water usage is high. On average we use 304 litres per person per day – which is significantly more water than we need. When we compare ourselves to other similar districts we see our residential water consumption is 60% higher.

Water meters encourage a responsible approach toward water use as they are transparent way for people to see how much drinking water they use and to help identify practical ways to save water. 

Reducing the demand for drinking water lessens the need for money to be spent on treatment plants, pipes and reservoirs, meaning that as the level of water conservation increases the cost in water infrastructure will be less.

Currently there is fixed charge, regardless of the amount of water you use, for your water supply which is paid through your rates bill (totalling $400.60 for 2022/23). With water meters you will pay for the amount of water you use.

Water conservation is the best thing we can do to significantly reduce the effect on the environment and to protect and enhance water sources cultural and community value.

New Plymouth water meter district-wide rollout

Our contractors are working in the following Water Supply Zones (WSZ). Please note installation dates are indicative and may vary due to weather or contractor delays.

Completed WSZ's: Fernleigh,Carrington and Urenui/Tikorangi - There may be some properties that could be revisited in these areas.

Brooklands WSZ from 06 October 2022 - 27 March 2023: 

Currently getting connections meter ready in: Bideford St, Coronation St, Cumberland St, Durham Ave, Junction St, Lambton Tce, Puketotara St, Sycamore St, Tarahua Rd.

Aotea St, Arawa St, Azalea Pl, Ballance St, Bell St, Bideford St, Blenheim Pl, Branch Rd, Bright Way, Broadmore St, Brooklands Rd, Cameron Rd, Carrington St, Coronation Ave, Cracroft St, Cumberland St, Dale St, Durham Ave, Eliot St,Essex St, Euclid St, Evelyn Pl, Fairgray Row, Filis St, Flight Pl, Frank Wilson Tce, Frankley Rd, George St, Gilbert St, Glenpark Ave, Gover St, Hartland Pl, Hawkins St, Hendrie St, Heta Rd, Holly Oak Tce, Holsworthy Rd, Hori St, Huatoki St, Hursthouse St, Juntion Rd & St, Kereru Pl, Kohatu Boulder Way, Kura St, Lambton Tce, Liardet St, List St, London Tce, Mackillop Way, Maranui St, Mill Rd, Newlyn Pl, Norman St, Oriental St, Orite Dr, Parsons St, Penny Ln, Plympton St, Puketotara St, Raleigh St, Rarawa Pl, Rawhiti St, Redcoat Ln, Ridge Ln, Rogan St, Saddle Row, Salcombe Tce, Selwyn St, Shortland St, Struan Ave, Sycamore Gr, Tainui St,Tarahua Rd,Tasman St, Te Arei Rd West, Thames St, Timandra St, Tokomaru St, Torbay St,Turi St, Tyne Pl, Upjohn St, Victoria Rd, Vogue Circle, Wakefield St, Welbourne Tce, Wicksteed St, Wilson Way.

Highlands Park WSZ - from 05 December  2022- 31 May 2023:

Adam Lile Dr, Ainslee St, Anderson Way, Argyle Pl, Ballantrae Pl, Branch Rd, Caledonia Pl, Del Mar Pl, Dunbar Pl, Greenridge Ln, Heta Rd, Highfield Pl, Highlands Pl, Junction Rd, Kapurau Ln, Karina Rd, Kinross Dr, Larsen Pl, Mangorei Rd, Manarau Cres, Montrose Pl, Oakwood Dr, Pentland Pl, Portland Dr, Taylor Pl, Tupare Pl, Tupuhi Pl, Tyne Pl, William St, Winstone Place. 

Lower Highlands Park / Merrilands WSZ from 09 Jan - 19 May 2023: currently installing meters in: Chilman St, Paynters Ave, Pukaka Pl, Rimu St, Waiwaka Tce.

Ambury Pl, Awanui St, Baring Tce, Barton St, Boulevard Dr, Brixham Pl, Chilman St, Cumberland St, Devon St East, Elgin Gr, Frank Frethey Pl, Hawea St, Heta Rd, Hunter Pl, John Guthrie Pl, Karaka St, Karina Rd, Kauri St, Kellyville Heights, Kendal Pl, Kennedy Pl, Leatham Av, Lindaver Gr, Lismore St, London Tce, Longview Dr, Mangorei Rd, Margaret Pl, Milne Pl, Miro St, Montana Pl, Nevada Dr, Neve Pl, Northgate, Onslow Pl, Paynters Av, Pukaka St, Rimu St, Riversdale Dr, Sandel Rise, Sequoia Gr, Skeet Pl, Smith Rd, Spencer Pl, Tamati Pl, Te Mara Pl, Te Mete Tce, Te Ngaere Pl, Telford St, Truby King St, Turakina St, Turehu St, Union St, Valintine Pl, Waiwaka Tce, Waiwera Pl, Warangi St.

Fitzroy Residential WSZ - from 03 April - 28 August 2023:

Barriball St, Beach St, Bedford St, Chatswood Gr, Clemow Rd, Clinton St, Constance St, Darrell St, Devon St East, Fitzroy Rd, Hamblyn St, Henui St, Karamu St, Kowhai St, Mahoe St, McLean St, Newton St, Ngaio St, Nobs Line, Normanby St, Northgate, Paynters Ave, Princes St, Puni St, Raiomiti St, Record St, Richmond St, Rifle Range Rd, Ronald St, Rophia St, Sackville St, Seaton St, Strandon Pl, Te Ara o Ngakeiha, Vogel St, Watson St, Weka St, Witako St.

 

What to expect:

  • The work will be completed over two visits from our contractors.
  • The contractors will knock on your door to let you know they will turn your water off.
  • Your water will be switched off for about an hour while the contractor prepares the installation, and again when the water meter is installed, for about 10 minutes.
  • When your water is turned back on you could experience air in the pipe or some residue when you first turn on your tap, this is normal and the tap should be left open for a short time until any air/residue subsides.
  • Any digging in the area will be backfilled and reinstated upon completion of the installation.
  • If your connection is meter ready and or has an existing water meter installed, it will be checked for suitability and modified if required.
  • If your water toby is inside your property it will be removed and a new toby will be installed outside of your property boundary at the new meter location.
  • If your property is classed as a Shared Water Meter Property because you share a private water pipe with your neighbour(s) we will be in touch with further information.
  • If you are not connected to the town water supply, a water meter will not be installed at your property.
  • If you are on a restricted flow (trickle feed), nothing changes with your supply or how you pay, but a meter will still be installed.

NPDC will undertake these works at no cost to you and in a manner that causes minimal disturbance.

To avoid doubt, nothing changes how you currently pay for your water supply. The exception is extraordinary supplies (like those with swimming pools) which are already required to pay by volume.

We will provide more detail at a later date about water billing.

Search for your property in the map below to view the current meter installation status.

 

The information on this dashboard shows indicative water meter installation updates. Please note this map is updated daily, not in real-time.

The terms and conditions of use of the NPDC GIS Viewer incorporate the terms and conditions of use of the NPDC website.

Shared water meter properties

Shared water meter properties are typically those that share a single point of connection.

These properties do not have a dedicated, single Council water point of connection. Instead, like other parts of the property (e.g. joint ownership of underlying land), the water point of connection is shared between neighbours. NPDC does not own, nor have legal access to, the pipes that connect each rateable property to the council’s water point of connection.

Leaks

The current estimated leakages across New Plymouth District’s network are around five million litres per day (15%-20% of total production).

NPDC is investing $240m over 10 years to Fix the Plumbing, this includes finding and repairing leaks in council-owned assets such as pipes, valves and joints. Property owners are responsible for leaks on their own properties.

Bursts (large breaks) tend to be noticed relatively quickly as they often cause homes and businesses to lose pressure or go without water altogether; however, smaller leaks (cracks and loose fittings) can go unnoticed for long periods of time and could cause damage to your property. Water meters are a good tool to measure how much water is used around the home and help identify the presence of leaks that may not be obvious to the eye.


Report a leak


How to read your meter

Frequently asked questions

Page last updated: 08:27AM Fri 24 March 2023

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06 759 6060 enquiries@npdc.govt.nz
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