Council Warns Against Illegal Water-Tapping

People tapping into the district’s water reticulation illegally are potentially putting residents’ drinking water at risk.

New Plymouth District Council is aware of large draw-offs of water through illegal connections, usually from water hydrants, and is warning those involved to stop.

“What they don’t realise is that they could inadvertently contaminate the water supply if there’s a reverse flow – such as if the water pressure changes through a legitimate large use of water, for instance for fire fighting, elsewhere on the line,” says Manager Water and Wastes Brent Manning.

“Right now New Plymouth District is meeting the mandatory national Drinking Water Standards, but illegal connections could put that – and residents’ health – at risk.

“We are improving our systems to identify large draw-offs as they happen, and if the situation is serious enough we will take action through the courts.”

Illegal connections are usually made by businesses, not private individuals – although NPDC is aware of one instance where an illegal connection was made to fill a swimming pool.

“Sometimes the person responsible genuinely didn’t know they needed approval to access the mains.

“But if you haven’t contacted the Council and received approval to draw off water from a main for a particular purpose, you shouldn’t go near the reticulation.”

The only people who may access the mains are the Fire Service during training or testing, or for putting out a fire; and Council staff and Council-approved contractors.

“If anyone sees a water hydrant being used by parties other than the Fire Service, Council staff or our contractors – currently City Care – please phone us and we’ll check straight away if the use is legitimate or not,” says Mr Manning.

“At the very least we’d like to talk to the people involved to remind them of the right way to go about things, and make sure that no contamination has been introduced to the water supply.”