Meter warning for water wasters

Monday, 12 October 2009

Water meters that charge households and businesses inflated prices for each drop they use could be introduced in Wellington if water consumption is not cut.

Installing water meters throughout the region would cost about $70 million, but would probably defer a new $142m dam in Whakatikei Valley, northwest of Upper Hutt.

The water supply is under pressure from the city's expected average yearly population growth of 1 per cent. Water usage needs to reduce by at least the same amount each year to maintain Wellington's annual water usage of 30 million cubic metres – or 350 litres a person each day.

Supply is already stretched in dry summers when water levels are insufficient to service the population to an acceptable level.

The city council's infrastructure manager, Maria Archer, said metering was being considered as part of a proposed water conservation plan. 'There is discussion about using pricing as an incentive to save water.

'[But] councils can't charge more than it is actually costing to provide the water so councils are not in a position [currently] to use charging as effectively as some would like, to drive behaviour.'

About 1200 households in Wellington voluntarily use water meters. They are charged $1.78 a cubic metre (or 1000 litres).

A law change would be needed for the council to charge more than the cost of providing water, which it buys in bulk from Greater Wellington regional council. Wellington is fully dependent on the regional water supply, which comes from sources outside the city.

Statistics show the pay-as-you-go meters would reduce water use by 15 per cent but Ms Archer said opinion was split on their merit.

'There is strong opinion among some technical experts and politicians that water meters are the panacea to all our woes. Others are not convinced.'

The council plans to highlight water-saving measures such as fixing leaky taps and covering gardens with mulch, which helps the soil retain moisture.

Its environment portfolio leader, Celia Wade-Brown, said those simple measures put the future of the city's water supply in the hands of the public. 'We need to ask people to change their behaviours without installing meters first … because there is a lot of opposition to meters.'

Capacity, which looks after water services in the capital and Hutt Valley, is working with the council on a water conservation and education programme.

Capacity chief executive David Hill said it was the responsibility of individual councils to approve the installation of water meters but they had proved their worth in other cities. 'International research shows they get 40 per cent savings to start with and then it drops to 15 per cent.'

Ms Archer said just installing the meters – but not actually using them to charge for water – also generated a 15 per cent saving. 'It seems it is the `awareness raising' that has the effect, not the price.'

City council papers show the favoured conservation option would see water meters installed within 12 years.

Saving on water is worth the extra cost

A water meter was already installed at the home of Margot Staunton and Arie Ketel when they bought it just over six years ago.

They decided to use the meter simply because other people in their Northland neighbourhood had them and it seemed the easiest thing to do.

Ms Staunton, a freelance journalist, said the meter had not made the couple consciously think about saving water.

' But subconsciously, I think it has made us make lots of little changes.'

They have high-pressure heads in both showers, use a water-saving front-loading washing machine, and use water from the condenser on their clothes drier to water indoor plants.

'We probably have shorter showers, too, but that is a really hard thing for a woman to do.'

One thing they never do is use their huge new bath.

'It just uses too much water.'

The couple have never compared their water bills against the rates they would be charged by Wellington City Council, if they did not have a meter.

Using the formula provided by the council, the couple paid about $10 more to the six months ending July 21 by using the meter, than if they had paid through their rates. But the couple say if they are saving water, then the $10 charge is worth it.

COUNCILS USING WATER METERS: Auckland, Manukau, North Shore, Waitakere, Tauranga, Nelson and Christchurch city councils, as well as Papakura, Rodney, Franklin, Whangarei and Tasman district councils. Source: www.sustainability.govt.nz