Clean fresh drinking water is important for everyone - but managing it is complicated. A lot of the systems that get clean water to New Zealand’s homes, and take the wastewater away, are old and need upgrading. Councils across the country have been working on this, but new rules to protect people’s health and the environment mean that the cost of upgrades will only increase.

The new rules mean better quality drinking water for everyone and less impact on our environment – but Councils and communities are struggling to meet the costs. That’s where Local Water Done Well comes in - it’s the government’s plan to help councils improve how water is managed for everyone.

By September this year, all councils need to have carried out a full review of the current state of their water services delivery and have identified how they’ll deliver water services in the future. Councils across the country are currently evaluating their delivery options and will be consulting with their communities in the coming months on the option they consider best. 

Whatever decision Council makes will affect everyone in the community, so it’s important to get it right. To find out more or sign up for updates on this topic, visit mpdc.nz/waterdonewell.