Drinking Water
Kaikōura District Council operates 8 public water supply schemes supplying water/kātao to over 3,000 properties.
For full information on each scheme check the information on this page under 'Our Water Schemes'.
For a full list of the current Boil Water Notices, check the Boil Water Notice Reminder under Latest News.
The November 2016 earthquake caused significant damage to a number of water schemes. 60% of the costs of water repairs and renewals for earthquake damage are being met by the Crown.
Strengthening the safety and security of water schemes has been a high priority for Council over the Three Year plan 2018-2021. Council is working to ensure all schemes meet national drinking water standards.
Boil water notices
The latest information about current boil water notices can be found here.
Boil Water Notices (BWN) are put in place when there is an elevated risk of contamination of the supply or routine testing results show that acceptable limits for contaminants have been exceeded.
Living with Boil Water Notices can be frustrating. Council is doing everything possible to improve water quality and remove notices as soon as possible whilst keeping people healthy.
Residents or visitors using water from schemes with Boil Water Notices in place should boil all drinking/cooking water for at least 1 minute before use. This includes water for:
- Drinking
- Cooking
- Making Ice
- Brushing Teeth
- Washing Dishes
Water Supply Problems
If you have a problem with your water supply, check if it's a problem with the pipes in your house, or the pipe between the Council’s service valve and your house. If this is the case the problem is the property owners responsibility.
For problems on the Council side of the 'point of supply', contact us by calling 03 319 5026 or request help through the easy online form here.
Our Water Schemes
Location: download a map
Water Quality Status: no known issues
Number of properties: 1635
Treatment Type: Chlorine gas disinfection, not fluoridated.
Notes: The township is supplied from a ground water source with water that is proving to be of exceptional quality and reliability.
Scheme type:
Location: download a map
Water Quality Status: No known issues
Number of properties: 43
Treatment Type: UV disinfection, cartridge filtration.
Notes: Ocean Ridge is the residential subdivision to the south of the Kaikōura Township, spanning approximately 142 hectares. The current supply was constructed in 2006 and is considered to be appropriate for a population of up to 500 people.
Scheme type: Rural water scheme (restricted, water unit = 1800 litres per 24 hours)
Location: download a map
Water Quality Status: Boil Water Notice
Number of properties: 34
Treatment Type: Nil
Notes: The East Coast supply is predominantly a rural stock supply, sourced from a 37m deep underground aquifer located on the bank of the Clarence River. The system consists of three reinforced concrete tanks of varying storage capacities and one HDPE tank approximately 25m3 . The tanks are located at different elevations to serve different areas of the community.
Some of the pipework is becoming problematic and needs to be replaced. The system would benefit from improved telemetry systems for remote monitoring of the bore and pumps.
Scheme type: Rural water scheme (restricted, water unit = 1000 litres per 24 hours)
Location: download a map
Water Quality Status: Scheme shuts down automatically after heavy rain, limiting residents supply to their domestic tank.
Download a factsheet about how the Kincaid Scheme works.
Number of properties: 193 properties
Treatment Type: UV and chlorine disinfection, filtration.
Notes: During long or very heavy rainfalls, the Kincaid water scheme supply shuts down to stop dirty water entering the system at the source. During this time, the systems main tanks are not refilling, meaning your water supply is limited to the water within the main tanks and your domestic tank. After the supply reopens, it will take a day or so for the systems main tanks to refill.
You should assume that during every long or very heavy rainfall, the scheme will shut down. The shutdown will continue throughout the poor weather, which may last several days. During this time, you should minimise your water use so that you don’t run out of water.
The Kincaid water supply is located about 10km north of Kaikōura. The scheme is fed from a shallow intake gallery located in the Waimangarara Stream at the foot of Mount Fyffe, an unprotected native forest catchment, and is therefore subject to contamination. Part of the gallery is covered in filter fabric in an attempt to reduce the amount of sediment entering the system. In 2008 a reservoir system consisting of 20 new 30m3 plastic storage tanks was installed bringing the total storage volume for Kincaid to 666m3 and providing 24 hours of storage.
Scheme type: Rural water scheme (restricted, water unit = 1000 litres per 24 hours)
Location: view map
Water Quality Status: Boil Water notice in place.
Number of properties: 63
Treatment Type: Chlorine gas disinfection.
Notes: The Fernleigh scheme is managed and operated by Downer. Council’s role is only to monitor scheme performance.
The Fernleigh water supply is located to the west of the Kowhai river and inland of the Kaikōura township, and covers a large rural area to its source at Cribb Creek. It provides water for both stock and domestic purposes. In 2007 the water source dried up and an emergency bore had to be drilled.
The Fernleigh Water Management Committee has assumed responsibility for the maintenance of the water scheme; however the Council incurs the costs of depreciation, water monitoring and testing which is recovered from consumers through the Fernleigh water charge.
Location: download map
Water Quality Status: No known issues
Number of properties: 67
Treatment Type: Filtration and UV disinfection.
Notes: The Oaro water supply was constructed in 1995, drawing its water from a shallow borehole approximately 100m from the Oaro River. The scheme consists of the borehole, a pumping and treatment system, four storage tanks and a distribution system. The system is maintained to a very high standard with no water leaks in either the pumping system or the reticulation.
The Oaro supply is partially subsidised by Kaikōura urban water consumers, who will provide funding assistance for this project through urban water supply reserves.
Location: view map
Water Quality Status: no known issues
Number of properties: 18
Treatment Type: Cartridge filtration and UV disinfection.
Notes: Situated within the Peketa village, Peketa is Kaikōura's smallest public water scheme. The scheme consists of a shallow well, a pumping and treatment system, a surge tank and a distribution system. The scheme has no storage tanks; instead water is pumped directly from the bore into the distribution system. There is a small provision of underground storage for firefighting purposes.
Location: view map
Scheme type:
Water Quality Status: no known issues
Number of properties: 73
Treatment Type: Chlorine gas disinfection, not fluoridated.
Notes: The Suburban Water Supply is connected to the Urban Water Supply which comes from a ground water source. This water is proving to be of exceptional quality and reliability.
How we look after your drinking water
What sort of testing does Council carry out on its’ water supplies?
Sampling and testing creates a picture of the water quality in the network. Council carries out both field tests and sampling tests.
Water sampling covers points throughout the supply network including: source, post treatment, post water storage reservoirs and at strategic points in the reticulation (pipe network).
Field tests are done at the same time that each water sample is taken. They give an indication of water quality at the time.
What do we test for?
Field tests check for residual chlorine (FAC) levels, combined available chlorine (CAC) and turbidity (suspended matter). The results are available instantly. Innovative Waste and Council are notified when field test results that are abnormal.
Water samples are couriered to to an accredited laboratory in Christchurch in chilled condition and tested for E Coli and Total Coliforms. It takes at least 24 hours to get a result
Testing is compliant with the NZ Drinking Water Standards and has been approved by Councils Drinking Water Assessor.
How do we manage the scheme?
Council must have a Water Safety Plans (WSPs) for each water scheme. Council works with Food and Health NZ to look after our water schemes, including work on our WSPs.
WSPs help ensure that drinking water meets NZ legal requirements and health guidelines. WSP's assess a drinking water scheme and the risks and demands associated with it. They include plans for treatment, distribution and monitoring to help manage water quality and reducing the risk of contamination. If needed, the plan also includes recommendations about what work is needed to make sure the scheme complies with NZ's drinking water standards. This includes operations & maintenance, monitoring and testing and treatment upgrades.
Information about the current WSP status for Kaikōura's water safety schemes can be found under the 'Our Water Schemes' section above.
Q. How do water schemes in our district get tested for chlorination?
A. All water schemes are tested at the source and in the distribution system. Free Available Chlorine (FAC) is also monitored with an apparatus that gives us a reading that displays levels of chlorination that remain in the water.
Q. How often are the schemes tested?
A. Twice a week through a lab and once a week with a portable machine on site.
Q. What determines the need to chlorinate a water scheme?
A. Each water scheme needs to have protection barriers to ensure the water is safe to drink. The Ministry of Health as a Drinking Water Assessor determines the type and level of barrier that each water scheme shall have.
Q. Is the chlorine added according to need or is there a certain amount added for all schemes requiring chlorination?
A. Maximum and minimum values are set in the Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand (DWSNZ). All water schemes need to fall in the given values.
Q. Is there any possibility of chlorination levels dropping in Kaikōura's water schemes?
A. All water schemes need to be within the DWSNZ levels set. Chlorination levels will not be altered unless they fall below the minimum or above the maximum set by DWSNZ.
Drinking Water Standards
The Health (Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2007 (an amendment to the Health Act 1956) came into force on 1 July 2008. This requires Councils to monitor drinking water and to take all practicable steps to comply with the Drinking Water Standards (DWS) as well as to implement risk management plans.
Three main themes are covered under the DWS:
- Maximum Acceptable Values (water quality standards for microbial, chemical and radiological determinants)
- Compliance criteria and reporting requirements
- Remedial actions to be taken when non-compliance is detected.
Plumbosolvency Notice
In New Zealand, most drinking water is plumbosolvent, which means it can dissolve very small amounts of metals from older pipes or from metal fittings such as taps. As an example, when you turn off a tap there will be a small amount of water left in the tap body. If this water is left sitting in the tap for hours it may dissolve metals from the tap body. Some plumbing fittings have the potential to allow minute traces of metals to accumulate in water that is standing in the fittings for several hours.
Although the health risk is negligible, your local Council & the Ministry of Health is recommending that all households flush a cup of water from their drinking water taps each morning before use. This is in line with the Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand.
All households are advised to take this precaution, whether they are on a public or private water supply.
If you want to know more, check with your plumber or contact your local Council for more information.
Paying for water in Kaikōura
Council splits the rates for water into a number of different charges to help spread the costs of supplying safe drinking water as fairly as possible. These are:
To fund the costs of the supply, treatment, upgrading and maintenance of the Kaikōura water supply, including the Suburban water scheme, as well as to partially subsidise the net costs of the Peketa and Oaro water supplies.
Category:
- Full Charge: All rateable properties connected to the Kaikōura water supply. $542.38
- Half Charge: All rateable properties situated within 100 metres of any part of the Kaikōura water supply, but not connected to the supply.
Annual cost per separately used or inhabited part of a rating unit:
- Full charge: $542.38
- Half charge: $198.46
To fund the loan servicing costs of the Kaikōura water supply.
Category:
- All rateable properties situated within 100 metres of any part of the Kaikōura water supply.
Annual cost per separately used or inhabited part of a rating unit:
- $24.99
To fund the costs of the supply, treatment, and maintenance of the Ocean Ridge water supply.
Category:
- Full Charge: All rateable properties connected to the Ocean Ridge water supply.
- Half Charge: All rateable properties situated within 100 metres of any part of the Ocean Ridge water supply, but not connected to the supply.
Annual cost per separately used or inhabited part of a rating unit:
- Full Charge: $542.38
- Half Charge: $198.46
To fund the supply, treatment, upgrading, and maintenance of the following water supply areas.
Category:
- East Coast Rural Water Charge: all rateable properties connected to the East Coast rural water supply.
- Kincaid Rural Water Charge: all rateable properties connected to the Kincaid rural water supply.
- Oaro Rural Water Charge: all rateable properties connected to the Oaro rural water supply
- Peketa Rural Water Charge: all rateable properties connected to the Peketa rural water supply.
- Suburban Water Charge: all rateable properties within the Suburban water area
- Fernleigh Rural Water Charge: all rateable properties connected to the Fernleigh rural water supply
Annual cost per separately used or inhabited part of a rating unit:
- East Coast Rural Water Charge: $690.00 per water unit (1,800 litres per 24 hours)**
- Kincaid Rural Water Charge: $228.36 per water unit (1,000 litres per 24 hours)**
- Oaro Rural Water Charge: $542.38
- Peketa Rural Water Charge: $542.38
- Suburban Water Charge: $379.67 per water unit (1,000 litres per 24 hours)**
- Fernleigh Rural Water Charge: $102.31 per water unit (1,000 litres per 24 hours)**
Certain properties are “extraordinary consumers”, such as commercial and accommodation premises, homes with swimming pools, and properties with more than one connection. These properties are metered and water meter charges apply in addition to the applicable rates above.
Water meters are read twice each year in January and July, and the consumers are charged for the amount of water they use. Payments are 20 February and 20 August.
On restricted schemes, water usage which exceeds the daily water unit allowance will be charged at $1.00 per cubic meter (including GST).
All properties with a meter will incur a twice‐annual meter maintenance charge of $25.00 ($50.00 per year) to cover the costs of the meter as well as administration expenses.
*Figures taken from the 2018-2021 3 Year Plan
**A “water unit” refers to a certain water connection, generally a rural water connection, that restricts the quantity of water supplied to a property, to the quantity of litres per day as specified
