About Watercare

Watercare Services Limited is New Zealand's largest company in the water and wastewater industry.

The company supplies bulk water to the Auckland region, an area of approximately 340 square kilometres through a regional water network.

The water is supplied to six water retailers (Metrowater, North Shore City Council, Manukau Water, United Water, Rodney District Council, Waitakere City Council) which in turn supply the water to customers in the Auckland region.

The company supplies an average of 347,000 cubic metres of water daily.The water is drawn from 12 sources comprising 10 dams, the Waikato River and an aquifer at Onehunga.

Watercare also operates a regional wastewater network, receiving wastewater from four of the region`s councils it treats an average of 288,000 cubic metres of wastewater a day at the Mangere Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Watercare is a council owned organisation under the Local Government Act 2002 and it is a company registered under the Companies Act 1993. The city and district councils of Auckland, Manukau, North Shore, Waitakere, Papakura and Rodney own Watercare. The owners appoint a shareholders representative group and appoints Watercare's board of directors and determines the company's overall objectives.

Changes to water and wastewater services in Auckland

Aucklanders will receive their water and wastewater services direct from Watercare from 1 November 2010. This change is part of the broader reorganisation of council and local body services in the region.

Currently, Aucklanders receive their water and wastewater services from their local council or from an organisation owned by or contracted to their local council. These service providers are referred to as Local Network Operators (LNOs).

Watercare is working closely with the LNOs to integrate the bulk and local water and wastewater networks and business processes.

The company’s aim is for Aucklanders to experience a smooth transition from their current service provider to Watercare.

The exception to the changes outlined above occurs in Papakura where United Water will continue to operate.