Standards, specifications and approved products

If you plan to recommend using a non-standard design or unapproved products, you'll need to ask us for dispensation (permission).

Find out what you need to do in the ‘Regional Standard Dispensation procedure’. This procedure is available under Phase 3 of the ‘Project Toolbox’ (the ‘Capital Projects Delivery’ SharePoint site).

Make sure you contact us as early as possible, explain the situation clearly and let us know why you're making this recommendation. Email us via dispensations@wellingtonwater.co.nz.

If you plan to recommend using a non-standard design or unapproved products, you will need to ask us for dispensation (permission).

This is covered in the ‘Regional Standard Dispensation procedure’. This procedure is available under Phase 3 of the ‘Project Toolbox’ (the ‘Capital Projects Delivery’ SharePoint site).

If you don’t have access to a copy of the procedure, email us for a copy via dispensations@wellingtonwater.co.nz.

Make sure you contact us as early as possible, explain the situation clearly and let us know why you're making this recommendation.

We strongly recommend that you request dispensation (permission) at the same time as preparing your application  for resource or building consent. If you obtain a resource consent without a dispensation, you may:

• • be unable to implement your resource consent, or

  • need to vary your resource consent. 

You'll need to ask us for dispensation (permission), if you: 

• • are planning a land development project, and 

  • intend to use a design of product that isn't consistent with the 'Regional standard and specifications'.
    
    

The process and how long it takes depends on where the development is, and the level of risk involved.

Dispensation managed by the Land Development team at Wellington Water 

The Land Development team at Wellington Water manage dispensation processes if the development is in:

• • Wellington City, Porirua City, Upper Hutt City, or the South Wairarapa District  

  • Hutt City, and the requested dispensation would involve high or medium risk.
    
    

Submit your request for dispensation using the Land Development Dispensation Request Form. 

Include your address and details of your proposal. This form also provides details on where to find information about assessing the risk. There are currently no fees for dispensation requests.

If you have any questions, email Land.Development@wellingtonwater.co.nz. 

Dispensation managed by Hutt City Council 

The Hutt City Development Engineering team manages applications for dispensation if:

• • the development is in Hutt City, and

  • the requested dispensation is assessed as low in risk.
    
    

These dispensation requests are processed as part of applications for resource consent, land-use consent or building consent. To discuss dispensation for a network design before applying for consent, organise a pre-application meeting with Hutt City Council. There is an hourly charge for this service.

Use the Hutt City Council's online form to organise a pre-application meeting with the Hutt City Development Engineering team

Build overs and build nears 

Building over, or near, public water infrastructure is one of the most common types of dispensation application we receive. The main matters that we will consider for this type of application are:

• • ongoing access to our infrastructure  

  • whether your works will damage our infrastructure.

If you are granted dispensation to build over or near public water infrastructure, you must provide CCTV  footage of the pipe condition. You'll need to provide this at your own expense before and after you commence the work. We will not organise it or reimburse you for it, so you should factor it into your project costs.