Connecting to networks

Each section of the existing drinking water, wastewater and stormwater networks was designed and built to service expected levels of development and standards of the time they were built. 

In some areas demand on a network is now greater than the network was designed for or service levels have changed. The network you wish to connect or discharge to (or network downstream of this point) may have capacity constraints or issues that may affect your ability to make a direct connection.

When considering new connections to the three waters networks you should contact the Wellington Water Land Development team for information regarding potential issues and requirements.

Please email the Land Development Team at land.development@wellingtonwater.co.nz with the following information:

• Address of the site or property for the new connections.
• Works being considered:
  • new house(s) or building(s);
  • addition/s to existing buildings; and/or
  • subdivision and number of lots.
• Network(s) to be connected to: drinking water, wastewater and stormwater.

The Land Development team will then get back to you about any known issues and network restraints that may affect your project, and provide guidance on the next steps and requirements. An example is that in order to connect to a wastewater network with known capacity constraints you may need to achieve wastewater control.

Stormwater pipes are limited in their capacity and ability to deal with extreme events. Because some stormwater pipes and watercourse can sometimes only cope with smaller events, there may be areas that flood during heavy rain events. To avoid the risk of flooding houses or damaging properties, it is important to understand the risk of flooding on your site.

The risk of flooding or flood hazards for some areas can be found through The Regional Water Stormwater Wastewater App. Currently some information is available for Wellington City, Johnsonville, Karori and Tawa, and Porirua. These areas have been identified through modelling or historical flooding incidents. Other areas will be added as modelling is completed.

The Greater Wellington Regional Council Flood Hazards Mapping Site contains all publicly available flood hazard information for rivers and streams in the Wellington Region.

Floor levels of a building are a critical flood protection mechanism and minimum floor levels may apply at your site. Some areas may have overland flow paths that must not be blocked or constricted.  It may also be that the effects of development on stormwater discharges within these areas need to be managed for stormwater neutrality.

Please contact the Wellington Water Land Development Team at land.development@wellingtonwater.co.nz for advice on minimum floor levels and if stormwater control/stormwater neutrality is required.

Applications and payment to connect or disconnect to the public water supply, wastewater or stormwater networks are made through each Council and then processed by Wellington Water.

Specific applications to connect to the network are needed even if you have already applied for or obtained a Building Consent or Resource Consent. Please be aware that alterations and new plumbing and drainage work will likely require that you are granted a Building Consent before you start work and before making an application to connect to the network. If in doubt, you should speak with the Building Control Team at the Council where the work is proposed to be located.

Note Tiaki Wai does not recommend that residential property owners apply to have a water meter installed ahead of the Tiaki Wai water metering programme. Read more on the Water Meters page

Application information

Wellington City
Visit the Wellington City Council website to apply and pay. You can also download the relevant forms below

Porirua City 
Visit the Porirua City Council website to apply and pay. You can also download the relevant forms below.

Hutt City 
Visit the Hutt City Council website to apply and pay. You can also download the relevant forms below.

Upper Hutt City
Please download and complete the relevant form below and return to land.development@tiakiwai.co.nz. An invoice will be issued by Upper Hutt City Council. 

Application forms

• Tiaki Wai water supply service connection application form
• Tiaki Wai drainage (stormwater and wastewater) connection application form
• Tiaki Wai public drainage permit application form

In addition to a completed and signed application form you will be required to provide the following information:

• Building consent or resource consent number
• Name and contact details for your drainlayer/plumber 
• A plan showing the proposed works/site

For any enquiries, please contact the Tiaki Wai Land Development team at land.development@tiakiwai.co.nz. 

Fees and charges

Fees and charges are set in the Tiaki Wai Pricing Policy and shown in the table below.

Water connection

A standard application to connect to Tiaki Wai networks generally comprises the following fees:

• An application fee (to administer a new connection application)
• Fee for Tiaki Wai to approve and supervise the connection
• Water shutoff fee to enable the connection (if required)
• Installation costs are paid directly to an approved contractor.

• Water Connection Installation - The customer shall engage and pay an approved contractor to supply, install and make the connection to the main water supply network.
• Termination of Water Supply The customer shall engage an approved plumber or contractor for the removal of a meter / disconnection / termination of the water supply. The water shutoff fee may also be applicable.

Water meters

Water Meter Installation

• The customer shall engage an approved plumber or contractor to supply and install the meter, and the installation must comply with Tiaki Wai requirements. 
• An independent test certificate for the meter may be required

Processing of Application

Once an application is forwarded to Tiaki Wai by Council it will generally take up to 3 weeks to be processed.

Approved applications will contain a set of conditions that must be complied with, including requirements for inspection and as-built drawings.

Physical Connections to the water supply network

Following approval of your application to connect to the water supply network, it is your responsibility to engage an approved contractor to do the physical connection.

• List of approved contractors
• For new water connections for residential properties your contractor will need to install a new water manifold (toby) when installing a new water connection to the public water supply main
• For new water connections for commercial properties your contractor will need to install a new water meter and a backflow preventor.

For new connections to the drainage networks in Hutt City, Upper Hutt City, Porirua City and South Wairarapa the physical connections to the drainage system must be undertaken by a registered drainlayer, and inspected by Wellington Water. It is your responsibility to engage a registered drainlayer to do the physical connection and arrange for Wellington Water to undertake the required inspections.

For new connections to the drainage networks in Wellington City a registered drainlayer constructs the new pipework to and exposes the main or connection point, but the physical connection to the public wastewater and stormwater networks is made by Wellington Water. It is your responsibility to engage a registered drainlayer to do the physical works up to but not including the connection and arrange with Wellington Water to undertake the required connection works and inspections.