From 1 July, water and wastewater prices will increase. While this means a small rise in monthly bills for many households, the biggest factor influencing what you pay is still how much water you use.

By monitoring your usage and making a few simple changes, you can stay in control of your water use, and your bill.

Understand how everyday activities add up

Small daily actions can quickly increase water use, below is a snapshot of what everyday activities can cost you in water.

What does flow rate mean?

Every tap and shower in your house has a specific flow rate, which is the amount of water coming out of the fitting. We measure flow rates in litres per minute, with 9 litres per minute or less being ideal. Measuring the flow rate of your taps is easy and only takes a couple of minutes.

Watch this how-to-video from EcoMatters Environment Trust to learn more about measuring your flow rates.

Flow rate differs from water pressure, which is the amount of force that moves water through your pipes and taps. Water pressure is determined by your hot water cylinder, which determines whether you have mains (equal) or low (unequal) water pressure.

How to reduce your flow rate

If you discover your flow rate is too high, you can install flow restrictors on taps and showers. These are widely available through plumbing and hardware stores. Before buying a water flow restrictor, we recommend chatting to a plumber to ensure the restrictor is compatible with your hot water cylinder. 

Reducing your flow rate results in saving water and power. Learn more about installing flow restrictors with EcoMatters Environment Trust.

Why saving water matters

Water and wastewater charges support essential services across Auckland, including:

• Safe drinking water

• Wastewater treatment

• Maintaining and upgrading infrastructure

• Supporting growth and environmental outcomes

More than $1 billion is being invested in infrastructure to keep these services reliable now and into the future.

Questions about your billing, payments or account?

If you still have questions, visit our FAQ page below.