Kawerau's water supply comes from two springs. There are also three wells available for use if the supply from the springs is insufficient to meet local demand during times of extended drought.
Chlorination of Town Water
The water is sterilised with UV and pH corrected by the addition of lime. It is tested weekly for contamination and a full chemical analysis is carried out annually. From July 2018, all water supplied to the Kawerau township has been chlorinated to provide residual protection against contamination that may be picked up as the water travels through the pipes and reservoirs. Read more about chlorination of Kawerau’s water supply.
With the introduction of chlorination, Council has provided two chlorine-free sources of water.
- There are two taps at the Pump House on River Rd, near the entrance to the Transfer Station, that provide UV-treated and pH corrected water.
- There are two taps in town, across Onslow St from the tennis courts and backing onto the New World carpark, where standard supply water is filtered to remove as much chlorine as possible.
Water Rates
- The residential and low-volume commercial water supply is not metered, It is paid for by a separate water charge that is part of the total domestic rates set for each year.
- Large-volume commercial users have their water supply metered and are charged per cubic metre.
- Further details on water rating >>
Flushing Minute Traces of Metals
Some plumbing fittings have the potential to allow minute traces of metals to accumulate in water standing in the fittings for several hours.
Although the health risk is small, the Ministry of Health recommends that you flush a mugful of water from your drinking water tap each morning before use to remove any metals that may have dissolved from the plumbing fittings.
Kawerau Council are recommending this simple precaution for all households, including those on public and private water supplies.
Backflow Prevention
Within a water distribution system, circumstances can occur where backflow results in drinking water becoming contaminated. Water suppliers have an obligation to ensure that the actions of any one customer do not have an adverse effect upon others through the contamination of water supplies. The water supplier must therefore have clear policies on backflow prevention at the boundary between the water mains or aquifers and customers’ plumbing systems. The Kawerau Council has adopted this policy on the prevention of backflow in the town's drinking water system.
Request to Conserve Water
The Council is asking all the Kawerau community to conserve fresh water, especially during February. In Kawerau, February is traditionally hot and dry, leading to heavy demands on the water supply. Please turn off unnecessay taps, and run sprinklers in the early morning, or in the evening after 6pm, but avoid running them during the heat of the day.
