Drinking water
Safe and reliable drinking water is vital to the health and prosperity of our region and its people. Wellington Water are responsible for making sure that the water supplied to Lower Hutt, Porirua, Upper Hutt and Wellington is clean and safe to drink.
Water from our rivers and aquifers (natural underground reservoirs) can contain microbiological material and a variety of naturally occurring chemical elements, some of which can cause health problems. We are fortunate in Upper Hutt that the quality of water is very high. Presently we have an “AA” grading for reticulated water supply.
Wellington Water monitor the water supply to make sure that there are no bacteria, viruses or protozoa (such as cryptosporidium and giardia) present following treatment processes, as they can cause water-borne disease. They also monitor the concentrations of a range of chemicals in our water, to ensure that there are no metals or other chemicals at levels that are considered unsafe.
The criteria for determining whether a water supply is safe are contained in the Ministry of Health's Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand. Monitoring and testing of the water supply is designed to prove that Wellington's water supply meets these standards.
What does it cost?
While we have the twin lakes at Te Marua and the Hutt River on our doorstep, Upper Hutt does not actually own the water in them. We, along with the other Councils in the Wellington region, purchase our water in bulk from the Greater Wellington Regional Council and distribute it to you through our network.
The cost of supplying this water is close to $2.4million per annum for Upper Hutt alone. In addition, the cost of pumping, distributing and maintaining the city infrastructure that transports water from the Regional Council to the city’s water reservoirs and then to your tap is about another $4.6 million per year.
So, put simply, the less water we use as a city, the less we get billed, freeing up funds for other uses and assisting Council in its efforts to curb rates increases.
Who is responsible for plumbing to my house?
You are responsible for all water supply plumbing fittings on your property after our point of service.
Our point of service for water supply is the shut off valve (known as a toby), which is situated on or close to the street boundary of your property.
We’re responsible for maintaining the water supply system up to and including the point of service.
Services in relation to a property in Upper Hutt can be viewed using Xplorer – property search tool.
Is chlorine or fluoride added to my water supply?
If your property is connected to the Upper Hutt water supply network, then your water will contain both chlorine and fluoride.
Chlorine is a disinfectant that kills water-borne bacteria and viruses that could cause diseases.
The natural level of fluoride in Wellington’s water is around 0.1 milligrams per litre or parts per million (ppm). The Ministry of Health recommends that water suppliers should adjust the amount of fluoride in drinking water to between 0.7 and 1.0 ppm, as this is considered the optimal level for good dental health.