Published 6/11/2024
Risk of tighter water restrictions reduced this summer, but continued work needed to reduce the future risk.
Wellington Water’s latest modelling shows that work to reduce water loss on the public network has had a significant impact on the risk of tighter water restrictions this year, but continued investment is needed to hold the risk at bay. Current modelling shows the risk of Water Restriction Level 2 has gone from 100% last summer to 40% this summer, Level 3 from 70% to 14%, and Level 4 from 33% to 4%.
“We’re encouraged by these results, which show increased investment from our council owners to get public leaks down to a sustainable level has helped to significantly reduce the risk this summer,” says Wellington Water’s Group Manager of Customer Operations, Charles Barker.
The region’s public leak backlog is close to the recommended sustainable level of 325 leaks, a target which keeps water loss at a minimum and ensures repairs are completed efficiently. As of 7 October, the regional public leaks backlog was at 528, down from 1,720 on 1 January. The number of leaks detected on private properties is now higher than leaks on the public network, with the backlog of private leaks at 547 as of 7 October.
“We can’t take our foot off the pedal yet,” adds Charles. “Leak fixes on the aging network are a band-aid, and it’s vital that they are balanced with increased replacement and renewal of pipes to reduce the risk for years to come. Additionally, we need to keep in mind our longer-term resilience as a region.”
Currently, the Wellington Region has a drought resilience level of around 1 in 10 years, compared to Greater Wellington Regional Council’s recommended 1 in 50-year resilience level. Building the region’s resilience is a key priority, with work progressing on the Te Mārua Water Treatment Plant to increase its production capacity by 20 million litres per day.
“It’s a great step forward for the region’s resilience but it isn’t a ‘silver bullet’,” says Charles. “When in service, this additional capacity will mean that we can draw more water from the Macaskill Storage Lakes when it’s needed.
“But using more water without renewing pipes and reducing water loss could lose the ground we’ve gained in the past year, and we could be back in an acute water shortage risk within 3 – 5 years.
“That’s why we’re encouraged by our councils’ ongoing investigation into smart water meters. These are shown to help find leaks faster, and drive water conservation. In Kapiti, meters helped reduce demand so much, they could delay investment into increasing their supply capacity which meant significant cost savings.”
While the risk of tighter water restrictions has reduced, demand spikes or sustained high use could still trigger a shift in levels with the highest risk period in late January to early February.
“We’ll continue to work with councils to keep the leaks backlog at a sustainable level, but it’s up to all of us to play our part,” says Charles. “We’re asking the public to keep an eye on their wai by following water restrictions and taking simple steps to reduce water waste at their place. Every choice counts, whether it’s turning the tap off when you’re brushing your teeth, hopping out of the shower a few minutes earlier, or finding and fixing leaks on your property.”
“We’ll be monitoring the situation closely and will provide the public with regular updates on the risk. While we’re in a much stronger position than last year, we know that the situation can move quickly, so keep an eye on our social channels and website for the latest updates.”
Water saving and efficiency advice for homes, schools and organisations, information on water restrictions and a water use calculator are all available at WellingtonWater.co.nz.
The Risk Forecast Summary can be viewed here.
Editor notes
Wellington Water is owned and fully funded by Wellington City Council, Hutt City Council, Porirua City Council, and Upper Hutt City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council and South Wairarapa District Council. All six councils are equal shareholders.
Our councils own the water infrastructure in the region, and they task us to manage the infrastructure and deliver water services to our communities.
Wellington Water is governed by a Board of Directors. The Board and our organisation receive overall leadership and direction from the Wellington Water Committee, which are also responsible for appointing members to the Board.
The Wellington Water Committee is made up of representatives from our council owners and mana whenua.