Will water works work?

The ink is now dry on a new agreement that carries a lot of water including a rise in costs for Frankliners in the Waikato District Council (WDC) region.

Fixed drinking water and wastewater charges will increase to approximately $142 per year; however this is less than half of a previously projected rate of $364 for the 2026/27 rating year, WDC mayor Aksel Bech confirms.

“No increase is welcome, but this is a meaningful saving for our communities with more efficiencies gained over time.”

Savings will be achieved thanks to a new council‑controlled organisation, IAWAI, which translates as Flowing Waters.

Developed in partnership with Hamilton City Council and Waikato Tainui,

IAWAI will deliver water and wastewater services to more than 220,000 residents beginning on July 1.

WDC’s water and wastewater infrastructure – treatment plants, reservoirs, pumps stations, pipes, staff, resources and more – will now be under the auspices of IAWAI.

“This marks the beginning of a new era for how drinking water and wastewater services will be delivered in the region and of the benefits that working together will bring to the communities we serve,” Bech says.

“By planning water infrastructure across the wider region, we can deliver major projects more efficiently and reduce the pressure on ratepayers compared with councils trying to do this alone.”

During the next decade, IAWAI is expected to invest more than $3 billion in water and wastewater infrastructure.

The organisation will also be tasked with helping to protect the Waikato River.

“The awa (water) is central to the wellbeing of our communities,” Bech adds. “As a shareholding council in IAWAI, this ensures future investment in water infrastructure also supports the long-term health of the Waikato River.”