More water for more people
Next year you'll have a role in deciding how to best provide water for a growing population.
Greater Wellington currently delivers water to the Lower Hutt, Porirua, Upper Hutt and Wellington city councils for supply to 379,000 people.
We already have a low-risk water supply system, but as the population grows the risk increases.
We're proposing short-term measures to provide more water - and reduce the risk of shortages - while investigating longer-term options. The short-term options are:
- Taking more water from the Kaitoke Weir
- A new reservoir in central Wellington
- Increasing the Te Marua water storage lakes' capacity
- Developing the Upper Hutt aquifer
Together, the first three options could supply a population of 395,000 in the four cities, which is projected for 2012. The Upper Hutt aquifer would provide for growth beyond 2012.
Current population projections mean we'll need a major new source or new water efficiency measures by 2022. We must identify a source soon, as development could take eight to 10 years.
We've investigated three dam sites and our preferred site is the Akatarawa Forest. The site is on the western side of the Wellington fault (so the pipes to Porirua and Wellington have reduced earthquake vulnerability) and we can increase storage capacity at a low cost.
Increased water use efficiency (eg, wider use of water-efficient appliances and household water metering) could delay the need for a dam beyond 2022, but the Hutt, Porirua, Upper Hutt and Wellington city councils would need to agree. We're also talking to them and the region's other councils about a combined approach to managing the region's water.
We'll consult with local councils on short-term options this year and with the public in 2009 on long-term options as part of our Long-Term Council Community Plan.