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Rural Water Supply and Charges Policy

Reference: P10-016
Status: Approved by the Council July 2010

Policy Purpose

This policy addresses the supply of water within defined rural water supply areas of New Plymouth District and the applicable charges.

Policy Statements

The following statements relate to the supply of water in defined rural water supply areas within New Plymouth District:

Water supply

1. A water service will be provided to all legitimate rural water consumers provided that their loads are compatible with the water supply network.
2. No cross boundary water connections are allowed and all such connections are to be removed.
3. All new water connections in rural areas are to be of the restricted flow type.
4. The Council shall offer all existing rural consumers the opportunity to change to restricted flow systems.
5. Any existing consumer who is not currently paying for the water they consume shall be converted to a restricted flow system.
6. No existing consumer shall be forced to convert to a restricted flow system except as in (5) above without specific study of the individual circumstances.
7. A customer may request for a change to their water restrictor capacity provided that the total demand is compatible with the water supply network.
8. All consumers who convert to the new system shall be bound by the New Plymouth District Council Bylaw Part 15, Clause 5.4.3 Restricted flow supply.
9. In all cases where consumers elect not to accept a restricted flow system a backflow prevention device shall be installed at the property boundary as per New Plymouth District Council Bylaw Part 15, Clause 5.8. Backflow prevention.

Water supply charges

1. Any consumers of water from the public system shall pay the appropriate charge and no water shall be provided free of charge to any consumers unless specific agreement between the parties exists.
2. A water tariff will be applied to restricted flow systems that reflect the restrictor capacity and costs of supply (per units of flow capacity measured in m3/day).
3. For all new service connections, the customer shall meet the cost of the new service connection pipe up to the point of supply.
4. The customer is responsible for the ownership and associated costs of any plumbing infrastructure required beyond the point of supply including backflow prevention devices.
5. Where a customer requests a change to the water restrictor capacity, that customer shall pay for the costs of the change.
6. That only one change of restrictor per restricted flow connection shall normally be allowed in any one financial year. Further changes requested within the same year may be charged at the higher nominated flow rate for that connection.

Review of Policy

Reveiwed three yearly (next review 2013).