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Bores
For residential and commercial customers to make use of a bore they need to apply to Auckland Council for permission and notify us
If you’re connected to either our water or wastewater networks and you choose to use bore water as an alternate water source, you need to let us know. This is for two reasons: Firstly, to ensure that our water network is protected from any alternate source that could mix with the metropolitan water supply, and secondly, to ensure that our wastewater network has capacity for additional wastewater discharge.
What are bores?
Bore water is groundwater that has been accessed by drilling into underground water stores called aquifers. A pump is typically required to lift groundwater to the surface, then the water travels through pipes to its destination.
Who would want to install a bore and why?
Residential customers might wish to install a bore for outdoor activities like watering their garden or washing their cars. Commercial customers, such as laundromats and car wash operators, may wish to set up a bore to lower their water bill.
The way you can use bore water depends on its quality and what your needs are. While we deliver high quality drinking water to Auckland communities, bore water may not be suitable for drinking. Some customers choose to filter and treat their bore water depending on what they want to use it for. Conveniently, we have a laboratory service that can test the water quality from your bore. Visit the website by clicking the button below.
I want to install a bore. What do I do now?
I want to install a bore. What do I do now?
Step 1: Applying for a bore water permitClick the link below to go through to Auckland Council’s website to learn more about what’s involved and how to apply online. You can also contact them by phone on 09 301 0101.
Click the link below to go through to Auckland Council’s website to learn more about what’s involved and how to apply online. You can also contact them by phone on 09 301 0101.
Step 2: Installing the boreOnce permission is granted by Auckland Council it is up to you (the customer) to employ a private contractor to install the bore.
Once permission is granted by Auckland Council it is up to you (the customer) to employ a private contractor to install the bore.
Step 3: Notifying usYour obligation under the customer contract
Section (3.1.1) of our customer contract states your responsibility as a customer when installing a water meter: “You are obliged to tell us if you obtain water from an alternative source in whole or in part for your property. If you have an alternative source, we may adjust your wastewater charges to better reflect how much you actually discharge or how much you are calculated by us to discharge.”
Once Council has approved your water permit and the bore is installed by your contractor, you must find out if you are discharging the bore water to the wastewater network. If you are, you are required to let us know. Unmonitored wastewater discharges can cause overflows which can be detrimental to public health and the environment. We will work with you to understand any capacity constraints in our wastewater network and whether there is any risk of the bore water mixing with our drinking water. To learn more about backflow prevention, click here.
Contacting us could also mean that your wastewater charges are adjusted to better reflect the amount you are discharging. We will work with you to calculate your wastewater use and discuss the following:
Set up a comprehensive site visit with our team so we can determine the appropriate wastewater discharge.
Metering option 1: You may be able to install a wastewater meter on your private wastewater network to measure discharge. This option is only suitable to some properties.
Metering option 2: Install a water meter on your alternate water source (the bore). Readings taken from your water meter would be used to calculate the volume of wastewater entering the network.
Most customers find that ‘option 2: installing a water meter on the bore’ is the most cost-effective way to calculate the amount of wastewater entering the network.
We will let you know if you need to have a water meter fitted onto the bore. If the answer is, yes, you will be required to organise and pay for the meter installation to be fitted by a private contractor of your choice. This is because the work is being done on your side of the network (the private side), It’s important that you inform your contractor or installation company of the requirement to fit a meter.
How do I know what meter to install?
Only Elster Kent meters are permitted. Click here for our guidelines on where to install the meter.
How do I know what wastewater meter to install?
Metering wastewater is quite different to metering water, firstly, wastewater meters are privately owned assets which our meter readers will need access to read. Our code of practice has more information on wastewater metering criteria and installation guidelines.
Your obligation under the customer contract
Section (3.1.1) of our customer contract states your responsibility as a customer when installing a water meter: “You are obliged to tell us if you obtain water from an alternative source in whole or in part for your property. If you have an alternative source, we may adjust your wastewater charges to better reflect how much you actually discharge or how much you are calculated by us to discharge.”
Once Council has approved your water permit and the bore is installed by your contractor, you must find out if you are discharging the bore water to the wastewater network. If you are, you are required to let us know. Unmonitored wastewater discharges can cause overflows which can be detrimental to public health and the environment. We will work with you to understand any capacity constraints in our wastewater network and whether there is any risk of the bore water mixing with our drinking water. To learn more about backflow prevention, click here.
Contacting us could also mean that your wastewater charges are adjusted to better reflect the amount you are discharging. We will work with you to calculate your wastewater use and discuss the following:
Set up a comprehensive site visit with our team so we can determine the appropriate wastewater discharge.
Metering option 1: You may be able to install a wastewater meter on your private wastewater network to measure discharge. This option is only suitable to some properties.
Metering option 2: Install a water meter on your alternate water source (the bore). Readings taken from your water meter would be used to calculate the volume of wastewater entering the network.
Most customers find that ‘option 2: installing a water meter on the bore’ is the most cost-effective way to calculate the amount of wastewater entering the network.
We will let you know if you need to have a water meter fitted onto the bore. If the answer is, yes, you will be required to organise and pay for the meter installation to be fitted by a private contractor of your choice. This is because the work is being done on your side of the network (the private side), It’s important that you inform your contractor or installation company of the requirement to fit a meter.
How do I know what meter to install?
Only Elster Kent meters are permitted. Click here for our guidelines on where to install the meter.
How do I know what wastewater meter to install?
Metering wastewater is quite different to metering water, firstly, wastewater meters are privately owned assets which our meter readers will need access to read. Our code of practice has more information on wastewater metering criteria and installation guidelines.
Step 4: What's nextOnce your bore water meter or wastewater meter is set up, click here to submit your application. Once the application is approved, your meter will be added to your account and regularly read by our team.
Note: We may book in a wastewater audit and make the necessary adjustments to your account. Wastewater audits will need to be carried out every two years.
Once your bore water meter or wastewater meter is set up, click here to submit your application. Once the application is approved, your meter will be added to your account and regularly read by our team.
Note: We may book in a wastewater audit and make the necessary adjustments to your account. Wastewater audits will need to be carried out every two years.
Got a question?
We are here to help. For all queries, please email [email protected]