How is a town to tank connection different from a standard connection?
A town to tank connection provides water at a lower flow rate than a standard water meter.
- Town to tank water meter: 2 to 8 litres per minute
- Standard water meter: at least 25 litres per minute
This means that with a town to tank connection, it could take around three days to top up a rain tank with 10,000 litres. With a standard connection, the water is plumbed directly into your home, not via your rain tank.
What are the connection and ongoing charges?
Below are the connection and ongoing charges for town to tank and standard connections. This is to help you to compare the two options. In addition to these costs, you will need to engage a plumber to carry out work
on your side of the water meter.
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Further information |
| New meter |
The town to tank connection includes a service lead and backflow device. |
| Infrastructure growth charge (IGC) |
The Town to tank IGC is cheaper because the flow rate is lower than a standard connection. With a Town to tank connection, it could take around three days to top up a tank with 10,000 litres. |
| Application processing fee (per hour, one hour minimum) |
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Ongoing charges
| |
Further information |
| Annual fixed water charge |
Town to tank connection customers will pay the annual fixed water charge in monthly instalments. |
| Volumetric charge per 1,000 litres of water. |
Town to tank connection customers will be billed for their water use every second month based on actual water meter reads.
Standard connection customers will be billed every month for their water use based on alternating actual and estimated water meter reads. |
Will my wastewater charges change?
No, this connection will not affect your wastewater charges.
If you would like to be charged volumetrically for your wastewater services, you will need to install a
rain tank water meter. If you have a rain tank water meter, the meter reader will continue to read this meter as well as your new Town to tank meter.
Can I upgrade later to a standard connection?
Yes, you can upgrade to a standard connection at any time. You will need to pay the difference between the town to tank and standard infrastructure growth charges at the time of upgrading.
Why do I have to pay an infrastructure growth charge?
Anyone who connects to our network must pay an infrastructure growth charge (IGCs). This charge covers the cost of providing new infrastructure to accommodate growth. For example, developing new water sources, treatment plants, pump stations and large pipes. It doesn’t cover the cost of upgrading local infrastructure at a suburban street level. That is paid for by existing customers through their monthly charges.
Find out more about IGCs.
What type of water meter and backflow device will be installed?
Once your application has been approved and you have paid your bill, we will install the following outside your property:
- A 15mm water meter with a tag identifying it as a low-flow meter
- A testable backflow device
How do I connect to a town to tank connection?
You will need to engage a registered plumber to complete the installation on
your side of the water meter. Their work will need to comply with the Building Act as well as the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act. You may choose to run a pipe up to your rain tank or you may choose to install a tap inside your boundary, enabling you to run a hose as required.
Importantly, we need you to ensure that the hose or pipe used to top-up your tank is not submerged in the rainwater.
There needs to be an air gap of at least 25mm between the hose or pipe and the highest overflow level.
How do I operate a town to tank connection?
You are responsible for installing and operating the plumbing on
your side of the water meter.
Importantly, we need you to ensure that the hose or pipe used to top-up your tank is not submerged in the rainwater. There needs to be an air gap of at least 25mm between the hose or pipe and the highest overflow level.
We also suggest you:
- Bury your private pipe to avoid the sun heating the water.
- Flush water through the pipe before topping up your tank – this is to remove the water that will have been sitting in the pipe since your last top up.
Why does a town to tank connection require a backflow prevention device?
We must ensure we protect the public network from contamination. The backflow prevention device means water cannot flow from the rain tank into the public network by accident or during a break or network shutdown.
Why do I need a wastewater connection in order to apply for a town to tank connection?
Initially, we are focusing on our existing wastewater customers because helps us to deliver a simple and easy set-up process. Once we have the service up and running smoothly, we will consider offering it other households that are close to our networks and have enough onsite storage.
How quickly can you connect my property after I apply?
Once we receive your application, we will take up to 10 days working days to process it. If approved, we will send you a bill that covers the installation costs as well as the infrastructure growth charge. Once this bill is paid, the low-flow meter will be installed within 12 working days.
Can my neighbour and I share a connection?
No, each property needs to apply for its own connection.
If I install a tap at my boundary, how can I stop other people from using it?
The plumbing on
your side of the water meter is your responsibility. Please speak to your plumber about your options. For example, you may be able to padlock the gate valve at your water meter or you may be able to install a lockable hose tap.
My house and rain tank are uphill of my property boundary. Is the low-flow connection suitable for me?
Flow and pressure are different. While the Town to tank water connection provides a low-flow rate, we expect the pressure to be like other properties in the area with standard connections. This means we expect it to be able to push water uphill.
However, pressure can fluctuate. If you install the connection and find it is not working well for you, we can change the size of the restrictor at no additional cost.