Water supply – Ngā puna wai Priority Area TOTAL OF GREATER WELLINGTON EXPENDITURE
11 PERCENT
What we do Greater Wellington is responsible for collecting, treating and distributing safe and healthy drinking water to Wellington, Hutt, Upper Hutt and Porirua cities. This work is carried out for Greater Wellington by Wellington Water, a joint council-owned water management company. City and district councils are responsible for the distribution of water to households and businesses through their own networks. The water supply to the four cities in the Wellington regional metropolitan area comes from three sources: ••
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The headwaters of the Hutt River (abstracted from an intake at Kaitoke weir, treated at Te Marua Water Treatment Plant and stored in the Mackaskill Lakes)
••
The Wainuiomata and Orongorongo catchments (abstracted from river intakes and treated at the Wainuiomata Water Treatment Plant)
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The Hutt Valley artesian system (primarily extracted and treated at the Waterloo Water Treatment Plant at the Waterloo Water Treatment Plant – there is a standby treatment plant at Gear Island, Petone).
Greater Wellington Regional Council Long Term Plan 2018-28
Water supply Regional resilience
Providing the bulk water supply to the cities involves managing an extensive network of infrastructure: large diameter pipelines, pump stations, reservoirs, treatment plants and other assets. It involves maintaining a continuous supply of safe and high quality drinking water, secure and reliable water sources and that our fresh water is sustainable – that we are planning for future demand while meeting our environmental and health and safety standards. The public water supply protects the community from water borne illnesses, provides fire-fighting capability, and supports industrial and residential development and the local economy. Having a secure water supply is also a basic requirement for a town or city. An important part of our work is promoting water conservation and sustainability. We’re also working with local councils and communities to help make sure people have access to emergency water in the event of a major earthquake. The water supply group of activities contributes to the water supply and regional resilience priority areas.
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