Our role
Our role as wholesale water supplier to the region's cities involves:
- Operating four water treatment plants, 15 pumping stations and just over 180 kilometres of large-diameter pipelines
- Supplying enough water each day - around 150 million litres on average - to meet the needs of over 390,000 people
- Maintaining a high quality of treated water, consistent with New Zealand's drinking water standards
- Planning to ensure that the water needs of future generations can be met
- Managing assets with a replacement value of almost $350 million
Our part in providing the region's water supply costs around $23 million dollars annually, or 42 cents per thousand litres. Each week we deliver enough high-quality water to fill Wellington's Westpac Stadium.
Planning for regional growth
Our water supply system is nearing its design capacity. A major new water source will almost certainly be needed in the next few years unless water use per person can be reduced as the population grows. To read about our planning to meet the future water needs of the region's cities see Planning for regional growth.
Water education resources
We would like people to understand the importance of water treatment and the journey water takes from rainfall to their tap. In addition to this website we have printed material available on request.
Greater Wellington has recently commissioned a new water education resource - Turning on the tap. Turning on the tap helps students to understand where their tap water comes from and make informed decisions about how they use it. It provides an integrated unit of work for Year 5-8 students with content that is particularly relevant for schools in the Wellington region. For more information about our new resource visit www.gw.govt.nz/turning-on-the-tap.
Organised groups are welcome to visit one of our treatment plants, weekdays by arrangement, for a guided tour to see the treatment process in action and learn more about the region's water supply. Tours are provided free of charge. For more information contact info@gw.govt.nz
Our environmental education team has also developed 'Take Action for Water', a four week teaching programme to help 8-12 year olds understand and care for freshwater in the Wellington region. Click here for more information.