Southern Water Done Well

The Future of Our Water Services: What You Need to Know

Our community faces a big decision about how drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services will be delivered in the future.

We’ve partnered with three other councils—Clutha District, Central Otago District and Waitaki District—to form Southern Water Done Well. Together, we are working to find the best solutions that ensure sustainable, efficient, and compliant water services for our communities.

What is Local Water Done Well?

The Local Water Done Well legislation requires councils to change how they manage water services, invest more in infrastructure, and comply with stricter government regulations. While this gives councils more control over local water decisions, it also increases central government oversight.

The Government has made it clear that councils must work together to make Local Water Done Well a success.

Why Change is Necessary

Doing things the way we have always done them isn’t an option as current operating models are likely to fall short of meeting new legislative requirements, including financial sustainability.

Water costs are rising due to:

✅ Population and industrial growth
✅ Increasing infrastructure costs for upgrades and renewals
✅ Higher water and wastewater standards
✅ Additional compliance and regulation from Commerce Commission and Taumata Arowai
✅ Ageing infrastructure requiring urgent investment
✅ Mitigation measures to our changing climate

These challenges mean councils must rethink how they deliver water services to meet new regulations and community expectations.

The Journey to Local Water Done Well

The water reforms were introduced to ensure every community in Aotearoa New Zealand has access to safe, clean drinking water while also improving wastewater and stormwater management.

A key trigger for these reforms was the Havelock North gastroenteritis outbreak in August 2016, where 5,000 people fell ill and four people lost their lives due to contaminated drinking water.

Following this tragedy, extensive reviews uncovered serious issues with New Zealand’s water infrastructure, safety standards, and regulatory oversight. These findings highlighted the urgent need for stricter water regulations and significant investment in better water management systems.

Now, through Local Water Done Well, councils are working together to create safer, more sustainable, and future-proof water services for our communities.

What Happens Next?

In the coming weeks, we’ll share three potential service delivery options and what they mean for our community.