A pilot programme to help shape future decisions on residential water meters looks set to roll out in Hamilton later this year.
IAWAI – Flowing Waters, the joint waters company formed by Hamilton City Council and Waikato District Council, will manage the pilot programme involving around 200 voluntary households in Hamilton East.
In June this year, Hamilton City Councillors allocated $1.1 million for the investigation and pilot, handing the work to IAWAI to manage as one of its first strategic projects. Waikato District Council, which installed residential water meters in 2017, will separately fund its own trial, upgrading a small number of existing meters to test the benefits of automated meter reading.
The pilot will also include a small number of the 4000 commercial properties in Hamilton which already have water meters.
IAWAI Executive Chair Kevin Lavery said the government has been clear councils like Hamilton must move away from charging for waters using capital value rating. The Commerce Commission, which will help regulate public water infrastructure, may also require residential water meters in future, Lavery said.
“Hamilton is one of few large cities not to have residential meters and the proposed legislation makes it clear we have five years to move away from capital value charging. So while there will be no immediate change the clock is ticking, and we will need good information and robust research to make the right decisions.”
Hamilton City Council has already changed how properties see the charges for water services with the introduction of separate rates for water supply, wastewater and stormwater.
The pilot programme would seek information on the best type of meters to use, how they should be read and serviced, water usage and customer feedback. Hamilton East had been chosen because its older infrastructure will also provide information on potential retrofit cost.
“Before we commit to anything, we want complete confidence in the process, the technology, the benefits and the costs.”
Lavery said in future, he thought it was likely residential water meters could be required as part of the city’s resource consent to take water from the Waikato River. That resource consent is up for renewal in 2044. He also noted Waikato-Tainui supported water metering based as part of its environmental plan to protect the Waikato River.
“The commitment to the health of the awa is something all partners share.”
Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate said her council wants a thorough investigation of water metering options before decisions are made by IAWAI.
“We allocated money for the pilot as part of our Annual Plan because it is very clear residential meters will be required down the track. There is no doubt about that,” she said.
“Nor is there any argument that as a city, we need to encourage the sustainable and responsible use of water. The cost of infrastructure is eye-watering. Using less water delays the need for costly upgrades to plants and pipes and puts less pressure on existing infrastructure.”
Pending Board approval, IAWAI will seek tenders for the pilot programme by mid-September. Households will be involved on a voluntary basis only; no household will be required to take part. Households on the pilot would be able to track their water use but would not receive a separate water bill.