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Who is responsible for pipes?
Ownership of water and wastewater pipes passes from Watercare to you at the point of supply. Here’s how to pinpoint where that is on your property.
The point of supply is where our network connects with a private network, for example, the pipes on your property.
For both residential and business customers, we’re responsible for the pipes, meters, backflow prevention devices and other network assets on our side of the point of supply.
It’s your responsibility to maintain all the pipes, fittings and devices on your side of the point of supply.
Below, you’ll find examples of where the point of supply is likely to be on your property.
For more information, please read our Customer Contract (Section 4).
Water pipes The point of supply for water is the outlet of the meter fitting closest to your private pipe. This applies whether the meter is inside or outside the property boundary. Your responsibility begins at the outlet of this master meter.
Five examples of the point of supply for water:
- Water meter outside property
- Water meter inside property
- Master meter and subsidiary meters (Please note: this is a legacy system that we no longer use but still exists for some properties)
- Water meter off private road
- Houses on a private road with a multi-meter box
Helpful resources
Technical details can be found in Chapter 6, Section 6.6 of the Code of Practice.
The point of supply for water is the outlet of the meter fitting closest to your private pipe. This applies whether the meter is inside or outside the property boundary. Your responsibility begins at the outlet of this master meter.
Five examples of the point of supply for water:
- Water meter outside property
- Water meter inside property
- Master meter and subsidiary meters (Please note: this is a legacy system that we no longer use but still exists for some properties)
- Water meter off private road
- Houses on a private road with a multi-meter box
Helpful resources
Technical details can be found in Chapter 6, Section 6.6 of the Code of Practice.
Wastewater pipes The point of supply for wastewater pipes depends on the position of the legal property boundary and the public wastewater pipe. This only applies to gravity pipes – pipes that slope downwards, where gravity drives the flow.
If the public wastewater pipe is inside the boundary, the point of supply is the joint connecting your pipe to our wastewater pipe or manhole. Everything upstream of this is our responsibility.
Here are three examples of our pipes inside the property boundary:
If the public wastewater pipe is outside the boundary, the point of supply is where your pipe exits the boundary. This may be in public land or neighbouring private land.
Here are four examples of our pipes outside the property boundary:
Helpful resources
Technical details can be found in Chapter 5, Section 5.6 of the Code of Practice.
The point of supply for wastewater pipes depends on the position of the legal property boundary and the public wastewater pipe. This only applies to gravity pipes – pipes that slope downwards, where gravity drives the flow.
If the public wastewater pipe is inside the boundary, the point of supply is the joint connecting your pipe to our wastewater pipe or manhole. Everything upstream of this is our responsibility. Here are three examples of our pipes inside the property boundary:
If the public wastewater pipe is outside the boundary, the point of supply is where your pipe exits the boundary. This may be in public land or neighbouring private land.
Here are four examples of our pipes outside the property boundary:
Helpful resources
Technical details can be found in Chapter 5, Section 5.6 of the Code of Practice.
A note on cross-lease boundaries
For our purposes, the boundaries between cross-lease properties don’t apply. We recognise the legal boundary of the original title of the property. Any issues of responsibility within the legal boundary fall to the property owners, who should refer to the terms of the cross-lease.
Questions? Contact us
If you have any questions about your situation, please call us on (09) 442 2222, press 4.
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