Report lays out the scale of Wellington water woes

Saturday, 12 October 2024

Dame Kerry Prendergast says fixing our water woes is a long term problem, and she is urging councils to work together to find a solution. Meanwhile, Wellington is at risk of running out of water in a dry summer.

Our drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services all need fixing. Just how that could be done is the focus of an advisory group representing 10 Lower North Island councils.

Earlier this week, the group released a report recommending a regional response to the Government’s Local Water Well Done policy.

In recommending a regional approach Dame Kerry Prendergast, who headed the group, emphasised there is no easy fix.

“The overall state of our water services network is simply not good enough. Water supply services are often unreliable, with old pipes resulting in about half of the water supply for the metropolitan area being lost through leaks.”

Wellington Water chief adviser Wastewater Steve Hutchison explains plans to reduce odour at the Seaview treatment plant.

The region has a huge backlog of infrastructure problems and unless the issues are fixed, the 99,000 new homes needed across the region would not be built, she warned.

She estimated the region needs to spend $15 billion to $17b on water infrastructure over the next 20-25 years. Wellington Water had previously said $30b is needed over the next 30 years.

So what does the report say?

– Across the region about 21% of the total three waters pipe infrastructure is worn out. Wastewater is generally in the worst condition with about 33% of the pipes at the end of their life. Most wastewater treatment plants are failing to meet compliance requirements and need significant investment or replacement.

– 1300 kilometres of asbestos concrete pipes need replacing as soon as possible.

– There is considerable risk of “network fault runaway” which means assets are failing at a rate beyond our ability to fund and fix the problem. In metropolitan Wellington, pipes in the drinking water network are failing at a level which means there is always a backlog of repairs. That contributes to the more important task of renewing pipes being put on hold.

– Wellington is at risk of suffering a major catastrophe in a big earthquake. If the drinking water connections from the Hutt Valley to Porirua City fail, the city would only have two to three days of drinking water. In a large earthquake some areas of the region would be without water for more than 100 days.

– Smaller councils do not have the expertise or funds required to employ the expert staff needed.

– There is an immediate risk of structural failure to the wastewater network. “These worn-out assets … are generating faults such as water leaks, pipe failures, major road closures, inundation of wastewater with stormwater during rain events, untreated discharges and localised flooding.”

– A recent report to Hutt City Council’s Audit and Risk Committee listed 23 major risks. These included an 18km sewerage pipe that could cost about $700m to replace, unresolved odour issues at the Seaview Wastewater Treatment Plant and the possibility of running out of drinking water.

– The region is at risk of running out of drinking water in a dry summer.

Hutt City Mayor Campbell Barry warned that odour issues associated with the Seaview Wastewater Treatment Plant might be unfixable.

So what is the answer?

The advisory group favoured a joint council owned company, owning all assets, revenue and liabilities. It would have a similar structure to a council-controlled organisation but with reduced council oversight, enabling the company to have greater control and certainty over investment plans.

Prendergast said that was the best way to make sure important investment decisions are made on the basis of need, rather than political expediency.

The recommended new water company would provide all services directly to water customers, and bill directly for water usage and services provided.

Charges would be determined by the board of the water company, with the oversight of an economic regulator. The new entity is likely to introduce water meters to control and monitor water use, and give it a source of revenue.

The new structure would be able to borrow against the council assets transferred to it. In issuing the report, Prendergast emphasised there are no quick fixes.

“This is why it’s imperative that councils work together, despite each facing different issues. Some councils have challenges now, some have challenges to come in the future. This is a long game, and working together, at scale, gives us the best chance to turn the tide.'