Water rate charges represent the cost to ensure water is fit to drink and delivered to your home.

Households located in communities with a water supply network (Te Kūiti, Piopio, Mōkau and Maniaiti/Benneydale) are charged a uniform rate on the basis of each separately used or inhabited part (SUIP). 

Properties identified as receiving an 'Extra Ordinary Supply' (PDF 1.03 MB) are charged a fixed amount in their rates for their 'ordinary supply' and in addition, will be charged based on the volume of water consumed over and above the allocated annual consumption of 292m³ per SUIP.

Those customers who are metered for water are billed in December and June. However, extremely high users (such as industrial users) are billed monthly.

What is a water meter?

A water meter is a device that is attached to your toby.   The toby, shuts off water to the whole of your property. It’s a good idea to know where your meter taps are before an emergency strikes. Check this once or twice a year to make sure it is working properly and if it is corroded, stiff or not working let Council know so it can be repaired or replaced. 

The meter measures the amount of water supplied to your home. Meters will be placed in a meter box, which will be fitted underground on public land. Click here to view our Water Meter Guide.

Waitomo District Council also installs water meters on properties as required to determine water balance requirements.

Who pays? (rentals)

The property owner is expected to pay the targeted rate, but may pass on water use charges to the tenant (see section 39 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986). The property owner is liable for rates pursuant to the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002. Any arrangement regarding payment of a water consumption charge is usually included in the Tenancy Agreement between the owner and the tenant. If the tenant does not pay the water charges, this falls on the property owner.

The Council has no involvement in matters relating to the Residential Tenancies Act. For further questions concerning responsibilities under that Act, please contact Tenancy services on 0800 836 262.

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Understanding water consumption on your property

Water is one of the most precious resources we have. Waitomo District Council’s role is to collect, treat and supply water to you. We need to ensure you have enough water of a consistent quality, flow and pressure to meet your day-to-day requirements. 

Understanding water use trends across the water supply network helps us to achieve this. Installing water meters in as many ‘points of supply’ as possible is the best way to establish and understand those trends. Water meters also help track water loss within the network by allowing us to locate and fix leaks more effectively, resulting in an improvement in water conservation.

For those properties that have a water meter - what you may not know is that this meter has been getting read every six months in June and December as part of a district wide process.  The read process can be done without entering private property which is why many people aren’t aware when it is being done.  

It makes sense to provide property owners with the water use data we collect, so from July 2024, property owners will be provided with a water account. It will have a zero-dollar value.

Water accounts show how much water has gone through the water meter over the previous six-month period.  For context, a household with four people might use approximately 166 cubic meters (m³) over a six-month period. 

Please note the meter at your property is for monitoring purposes only, so the water account has a zero-dollar value.  You pay for water through the targeted water supply rate which is detailed on the annual rates invoice.

The purpose of sending you the water account is to help you better understand water usage on site which can in turn encourage water conservation. If we determine there has been a much higher than usual level of water use recorded over the meter, we will let you know as there may be a water leak on the property. 

Please do not hesitate to contact us 07 878 0800 if you have any questions. 

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How can I pay my water bill?

Click here to view payment options.

What happens if I'm moving house?

Just like your power,  you will need to have a final meter reading for water.   Please give us a call on 0800 932 4357 to log a service request. 

If you still get a metered water invoice in your name after selling the property, it may mean that WDC have not been notified of the sale.  It is normally your solicitor handling the sale that arranges this notification - check with them that they have sent this through.