Water Supply

Greater Wellington’s Water Supply activities achieved 67 percent of their 12 performance measures this year.  

What we deliver for the region’s water supply

Greater Wellington is responsible for collecting, treating and distributing safe and healthy drinking water to Wellington, Hutt, Upper Hutt and Porirua City councils. This work is carried out for Greater Wellington by Wellington Water Limited (WWL), 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. Providing the bulk water supply to the city councils involves managing an extensive network of infrastructure, ensuring safe, high-quality, secure and reliable water sources, and that our freshwater is sustainable.

Collaboration to avoid a crisis

Water usage restrictions and proactive public messaging on water conservation by WWL, WREMO, and other regional partners has helped to mitigate the risks of water shortages over the summer months. Regional coordination and frequent communication between partner agencies was an important part of managing the water supply over summer and avoiding the need for more tighter restrictions on water use.

Modernising our water infrastructure

Greater Wellington has a responsibility to protect the health of our drinking water through healthy catchments, as well as supplying bulk drinking water for the Region. We’re continuing a major upgrade of the Te Mārua water treatment facility, which will create more capacity in our water supply as well as enhancing seismic resilience of key facilities. We’re also improving bulk water pipes while also enhancing recreation opportunities. The new Whakawhirinaki Silverstream Water Bridge is a key part of the Region’s water supply infrastructure, as well as a new walking and cycling track connecting to the Hutt River Trail. The Silverstream pipeline will carry 60 million litres of water a day as the key supplier for Upper Hutt, Stokes Valley, Porirua, and 40 percent of Wellington City’s water supply, and is on track to be completed by mid-2025.

Shifting to Local Water Done Well

The Affordable Water Reforms, which ended after a stop-work order from Central Government, has been replaced by the new Local Water Done Well programme. Councils in the wider Wellington Region, including Greater Wellington, are working collaboratively to prepare a proposed model for how a joint arrangement for delivering water services could be set up based on the direction being set by Central Government.