Water Metering to be Tightened

Friday 3 September 2010

Many significant water users in Tasman will be required to improve their metering under proposed Government regulations. The new rules are an attempt by the Government to learn more about how and where the nation’s water is extracted. It is estimated that only 31% of water taken nationally is metered.

Current water use is worth more than $5 billion per year to the national economy and the Government considers that even a small improvement in efficiency makes this investment in better data well worthwhile. The new regulations will not cover small takes for domestic use.

The metering will be staged over six years, with takes of 20 litres a second extraction to be metered within two years of the regulations being adopted, takes of more than 10 litres a second metered within four years, and five litres a second within six years. The national average-sized consented water take is about 10 litres per second.

These metering regulations are the first step in the Government’s plans to improve New Zealand’s fresh water management.

What Does This Mean For Tasman Water Take Consent Holders? 

 When the finalised details are available, all consent holders will be contacted by the Council directly and informed of the regulations and how users are affected individually.  Information available to date shows that many of the current meters would not meet the new requirements and as such a number will have to be replaced. 

It is envisaged that under the amended rules all new consents of over five litres per second will be required to use the new meters, so will not be part of the staged rollout. Government expectations are that initial capital costs will be between $3,000 and $4,000 for the average user. There are also a range of costs for councils and central government associated with the implementation and administration of the regulations.

Council will keep all water permit holders and the community informed with the progress of the regulations and their implementation.

Further Information 

Ministry for the Environment 

Contact Joseph Thomas, Water Resource Scientist