Our Water Supply
All properties that are connected to the public water supply are metered and pay for all consumption.
Our tariffs and charges are detailed here: (Charges and tariffs 84.0kb)
WATER - VITAL TO A LIVING CITY
A clean, running water supply and an efficient wastewater disposal system are essential services and vital to the protection of our environment, our economy, and the health and welfare of our City’s people.
We take it for granted that when we turn on the tap, clean water will flow out and that wastes will disappear without causing any harm. However, it requires huge commitment of valuable resources to make this happen reliably for every household and business.
WATER QUALITY
Water plays a crucial role in all living processes from the level of individual organisms to ecosystems. We depend on good quality water for our own sustenance, waste disposal, agriculture, industry, tourism and for recreation.
Manukau Water supplies water which complies with the New Zealand Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand: 2000 published by the Ministry of Health” This water is typically used for drinking, toilet flushing, cleaning, cooking, irrigation and industrial and manufacturing processes, as well as fire fighting within the rural sector.
Manukau Water is committed to maintaining an “Aa” grading which is a measure of water quality, system management and reliability.
A water filter is not necessary for health reasons unless you prefer the taste of filtered water.
The water supply has fluoride added to reduce tooth decay, in accordance with Ministry of Health recommendations.
If you have any concerns about water quality or a change in clarity, taste, or smell, please contact us. We will undertake and investigate reasonable testing at no cost to you.
POLLUTION OF WATER SOURCES
Water can be polluted with animal and/or chemical wastes. Even deep underground aquifers can be polluted from the surface with chemicals put on the ground. Everyone must do their part to keep our water sources clean.
Public utilities must clean water very carefully. They test and measure to make sure water is safe. They can measure pollutants in bodies of water; parts per million, parts per billion, and even parts per trillion. The water that the utilities deliver must meet strict rules of purity. It’s hard to imagine but:
- One part per million would be equal to one drop in 45 litres of water or the size of a fish tank.
- One part per billion would be equal to one drop in 45,000 litres of water.
- One part per trillion would be equal to one drop in 45,000,000 litres.
After water is used, it goes down the drain and through the sewer to a wastewater treatment plant. There it is treated(cleaned) again before the water is sent back to a natural source. This protects everyone and everything that uses the water downstream.
Did you know…
- The pipework under Manukau is 3,700 kilometres long. This more than the distance to Australia and back!
- 90,000 tonnes of water flows into Manukau City every day. This is enough to fill an Olympic sized swimming pool every 10 minutes, or a super tanker every day!
For further information on drinking water you can download NZ Water and Wastes Association booklet The story of Water (PDF, 5.4MB)
