Te āheitanga o te kōtuinga wai i Tāmaki Makaurau
Network capacity in Auckland
Find out where there is network capacity in Auckland.
The map below shows where there is capacity in our water and wastewater networks and treatment plants to support new housing, and where there are capacity limitations.
In most areas where there are limitations, we are planning projects to upgrade or expand the infrastructure. The timeframes for these projects are shown in the table that accompanies the map.
- Click here for a map and information about wastewater limitations in Ōtara
- Click here for a map and information about water and wastewater limitations in lower North Shore
A few rural areas have historic constraints that we inherited when we took over the region’s water and wastewater services in 2010. We are not planning to increase network capacity in these areas.
Find out when we will address the network limitations
Read or download our network capacity map and table of helpful information.
About the map
- Water or wastewater limitations do not always mean no connections; we assess applications individually. Connection feasibility depends on the development's location, likely demand for our services, size, and timing.
- If you are considering building in an area with water or wastewater limitations, please click here before you start working on your project. The online tool will help you understand whether your project could be impacted.
- The map focuses on capacity at a town or suburb level. Across Auckland, some individual streets may be limited due to bottlenecks in local water or wastewater pipes. We encourage you to assess the impact of your proposed development as part of your resource consent process. If a network limitation is identified, you may need to upgrade the local network. See our consents page to understand the key steps in the resource consent process.
- We will update this map regularly.
- While this map offers a broad overview of our network capacity, please use our GIS maps to zoom in on areas with network limitations. In GIS, click on ‘layers list’ and then ‘planning areas’.
How we support growth in Auckland
Over the next 10 years, Auckland’s population is forecast to grow by 13 per cent, adding another 215,000 people to our current population of 1.75 million.
We align our asset management planning with Auckland Council’s Future Development Strategy. This helps to ensure that we are investing in the right areas and at the right time to support anticipated growth.
In the 2025 financial year we will invest more than $1.2billion in new and upgraded water and wastewater infrastructure for Auckland.
This is part of a $13.7 billion investment planned for the next decade – $6.8billion of which is for projects that support growth.
Press release: Building for Auckland’s growing water needs
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
I’m planning to build a home in an area that appears to have limitations. What should I do?We encourage you to click here and use our online tool before starting work on your project. It will let you know if your project could be impacted.
We encourage you to click here and use our online tool before starting work on your project. It will let you know if your project could be impacted.
I’ve already got building consent in an area that is showing limitations. What does this mean for me?Developments that already have building consent are not impacted by these growth limitations. If the building consent was granted on the basis that a public water or wastewater connection would be available, the property will still be able to connect to our services, provided all other consent conditions are met.
Developments that already have building consent are not impacted by these growth limitations. If the building consent was granted on the basis that a public water or wastewater connection would be available, the property will still be able to connect to our services, provided all other consent conditions are met.
I’ve got resource consent but I don’t have engineering plan approval or a building consent. What does this mean for me?We encourage you to click here and use our online tool.
We encourage you to click here and use our online tool.
I’m planning to build a new development in an area that appears to have no growth limitations, according to the map. Does that mean I’m fine to proceed? While there is plenty of capacity to support growth in Auckland, there are still some very localised limitations. For example, some individual streets may be limited due to bottlenecks in the local water or wastewater pipes. We encourage you to assess the impact of your proposed development as part of your resource consent process. If a network limitation is identified, you may need to upgrade the local network.
See our consents page to understand the key steps in the resource consent process.
While there is plenty of capacity to support growth in Auckland, there are still some very localised limitations. For example, some individual streets may be limited due to bottlenecks in the local water or wastewater pipes. We encourage you to assess the impact of your proposed development as part of your resource consent process. If a network limitation is identified, you may need to upgrade the local network.
See our consents page to understand the key steps in the resource consent process.
I want to build a new development but have been told that no connections to the wastewater network will be available for several years. Can I build an alternative wastewater solution?Any alternative wastewater solution must meet the Code of Practice. We will not support wastewater tankering or off-peak pumping arrangements.
Any alternative wastewater solution must meet the Code of Practice. We will not support wastewater tankering or off-peak pumping arrangements.
Can I pay my infrastructure growth charge early and secure my connection? No, we cannot ‘hold’ capacity in our networks for a property that is not ready to connect.
No, we cannot ‘hold’ capacity in our networks for a property that is not ready to connect.