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Town to tank meters
A new type of water service to provide peace of mind to homeowners that rely on rain tanks
Town to tank water connections enable residential homeowners that rely on rain tanks to top up their tanks using the town water supply on an ‘as required’ basis. It gives them total control over their water supply and greater flexibility, meaning they do not have to worry when their tanks run low or when guests come to stay. It removes the need to order water from private water carriers or queue at local water service centres.
Is my property able to connect?
Properties that are eligible are connected to the wastewater network; are close to the public water network; and have rain tanks that hold at least 20,000 litres.
How much will I pay to connect?
Town to tank water connections cost significantly less than a standard water connection because the flow rate is lower. It puts less pressure on the public water network as it is simply a top-up service that can be used when needed. To find out about charges, please click here.
What are my options?
If you have a rain tank, there are several options available to you (see below):
- Keep your existing rain tank and continue to order top-ups from private water carriers
This is a good option if you rarely run out of water. However, during dry periods, there can be long delays in receiving top-ups from private water carriers due to high demand.
This summer, the amount private water carriers will pay Watercare for 1,000 litres of water will increase from $1.386 to $3.90 (+ GST). This means the amount they pay for 10,000 litres of water will increase from $13.86 to $39.00 (+GST). The new price better reflects the actual cost of providing services to water carriers, ensuring our existing customers are not subsidising them.
- Install an additional rain tank
This is a good option if you want to increase your resiliency while remaining self-sufficient. You will need to have the space to accommodate an additional tank.
See Auckland Council’s website for information about resource and building consents and tank suppliers.
- Get a town to tank water connection
This is a good option if you want to increase your resiliency while remaining self-sufficient most of the time. It’s also a good option if you do not have the space to accommodate an additional tank.
A town to tank connection is designed to top-up your existing rain tank over a few days.
The flow rate is around 2-8 litres per minute.
- Get a standard water connection
This is a good option if you want a safe, reliable and resilient water supply that requires little ongoing maintenance or effort.
A standard water connection is plumbed directly into your house.
The flow rate is around 25 litres per minute.
To compare this option to the town to tank option, see the price comparison in the 'how much will I pay to connect' section below.
Applications will be processed on a first in, first served basis. If there is a high demand for these connections, it could affect the processing and installation timeframes. We will give you an indication of the timeframe at the time of application.
What will I need in order to apply?
When you click 'apply now' and access our building development portal, you will need to create an account to track your order.
You will need to provide us with your existing account number which is found at the top of your Watercare invoices.
You will also need to provide us with a drawing which details your preference for the location of your meter. Click here to see a basic sketch.
What will the service look like once installed?
Check out the photos below which will give you an idea of what installation looks like.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a town to tank connection different from a standard connection?A town to tank connection provides water at a lower flow rate than a standard water meter.
- Town to tank water meter: 2 to 8 litres per minute
- Standard water meter: at least 25 litres per minute
This means that with a town to tank connection, it could take around three days to top up a rain tank with 10,000 litres. With a standard connection, the water is plumbed directly into your home, not via your rain tank.
A town to tank connection provides water at a lower flow rate than a standard water meter.
- Town to tank water meter: 2 to 8 litres per minute
- Standard water meter: at least 25 litres per minute
This means that with a town to tank connection, it could take around three days to top up a rain tank with 10,000 litres. With a standard connection, the water is plumbed directly into your home, not via your rain tank.
What are the connection and ongoing charges?Below are the connection and ongoing charges for town to tank and standard connections. This is to help you to compare the two options. In addition to these costs, you will need to engage a plumber to carry out work on your side of the water meter.
Further information
- New meter - The town to tank connection includes a service lead and backflow device.
- Infrastructure growth charge (IGC) - The Town to tank IGC is cheaper because the flow rate is lower than a standard connection. With a Town to tank connection, it could take around three days to top up a tank with 10,000 litres.
- Application processing fee (per hour, one hour minimum)
Ongoing charges
- Annual fixed water charge - Town to tank connection customers will pay the annual fixed water charge in monthly instalments.
- Volumetric charge per 1,000 litres of water - Town to tank connection customers will be billed for their water use every second month based on actual water meter reads. Standard connection customers will be billed every month for their water use based on alternating actual and estimated water meter reads.
Below are the connection and ongoing charges for town to tank and standard connections. This is to help you to compare the two options. In addition to these costs, you will need to engage a plumber to carry out work on your side of the water meter.
Further information
- New meter - The town to tank connection includes a service lead and backflow device.
- Infrastructure growth charge (IGC) - The Town to tank IGC is cheaper because the flow rate is lower than a standard connection. With a Town to tank connection, it could take around three days to top up a tank with 10,000 litres.
- Application processing fee (per hour, one hour minimum)
Ongoing charges
- Annual fixed water charge - Town to tank connection customers will pay the annual fixed water charge in monthly instalments.
- Volumetric charge per 1,000 litres of water - Town to tank connection customers will be billed for their water use every second month based on actual water meter reads. Standard connection customers will be billed every month for their water use based on alternating actual and estimated water meter reads.
What type of water meter and backflow device will be installed?Once your application has been approved and you have paid your bill, we will install the following outside your property:
- A 15mm water meter with a tag identifying it as a low-flow meter
- A testable backflow device
Once your application has been approved and you have paid your bill, we will install the following outside your property:
- A 15mm water meter with a tag identifying it as a low-flow meter
- A testable backflow device
How do I connect to a town to tank connection?You will need to engage a registered plumber to complete the installation on your side of the water meter. Their work will need to comply with the Building Act as well as the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act. You may choose to run a pipe up to your rain tank or you may choose to install a tap inside your boundary, enabling you to run a hose as required.
Importantly, we need you to ensure that the hose or pipe used to top-up your tank is not submerged in the rainwater. There needs to be an air gap of at least 25mm between the hose or pipe and the highest overflow level.
You will need to engage a registered plumber to complete the installation on your side of the water meter. Their work will need to comply with the Building Act as well as the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act. You may choose to run a pipe up to your rain tank or you may choose to install a tap inside your boundary, enabling you to run a hose as required.
Importantly, we need you to ensure that the hose or pipe used to top-up your tank is not submerged in the rainwater. There needs to be an air gap of at least 25mm between the hose or pipe and the highest overflow level.
How do I operate a town to tank connection?You are responsible for installing and operating the plumbing on your side of the water meter.
Importantly, we need you to ensure that the hose or pipe used to top-up your tank is not submerged in the rainwater. There needs to be an air gap of at least 25mm between the hose or pipe and the highest overflow level.
We also suggest you:
- Bury your private pipe to avoid the sun heating the water.
- Flush water through the pipe before topping up your tank – this is to remove the water that will have been sitting in the pipe since your last top up.
You are responsible for installing and operating the plumbing on your side of the water meter.
Importantly, we need you to ensure that the hose or pipe used to top-up your tank is not submerged in the rainwater. There needs to be an air gap of at least 25mm between the hose or pipe and the highest overflow level.
We also suggest you:
- Bury your private pipe to avoid the sun heating the water.
- Flush water through the pipe before topping up your tank – this is to remove the water that will have been sitting in the pipe since your last top up.
Why does a town to tank connection require a backflow prevention device?We must ensure we protect the public network from contamination. The backflow prevention device means water cannot flow from the rain tank into the public network by accident or during a break or network shutdown.
We must ensure we protect the public network from contamination. The backflow prevention device means water cannot flow from the rain tank into the public network by accident or during a break or network shutdown.