Over the last few years the Waikato District Council has maintained that it must install water meters, or risk having future water extraction resource consents turned down by the Waikato Regional Council. The District Council has said that meters will assist in reducing water loss, both in private plumbing as well as in the Councils reticulation network. It now seems that water meters are not a requirement of the Waikato Regional Council.
Raglander John Lawson has recently talked to Hugh Kean at Regional Council about water meters. Hugh confirmed to John that his understanding was right that WRC have no rules specifically requiring water meters. They just support whatever measures District Councils decide to adopt to achieve efficiency. He concurred with John’s understanding that Raglan’s water use only slightly exceeds two-thirds of the consented take in the summer peak. Hugh said, “He didn’t know the detail of the catchment or aquifer, but agreed that if, as is the case, the stream still has adequate flow, only runs for about a kilometre from spring to harbour, is a self-contained catchment and aquifer and no other water takes are consented in that aquifer, then there’s no need to reduce the consent, or require further conservation measures.”
John Lawson said, “My interpretation of this new information is that water metering and summer restrictions are unnecessary. A while ago Raglan Community Board was asking for a cost-benefit report on metering which it never received”
John has provided this information to Alan Vink, current Chair of the Raglan Community Board, saying, “I hope you will repeat that request for a cost-benefit report.”
At last!!!! Good work.
They installed our meter on Friday. 3 men x 3 hours = 9 hrs @ say $40 per hr = 360 plus vehicle + cast iron box plus manifold plus meter. Total say $900. Where is the cost benefit