Water suppliers deny homes are being left high and dry

Rumours of rural households with empty water tanks having long waits for bulk water deliveries are unfounded, say two suppliers.

Kerikeri Water Supplies says it is meeting most requests for water deliveries on the east coast within two to three days, despite having its busiest summer in 15 years.

"If people are actually out of water, we ring a customer who we know has enough and ask if we can swap them around," says Moana Kiff, who owns and runs the business with husband James.

No one can accuse the couple of profiteering during the drought either.

Despite James delivering up to 100,000 litres of water a day - 10 tanker loads - they still charge $250 to deliver 10,000 litres of water in the Kerikeri area and extra for deliveries further afield.

"I don't think we've had a price increase for probably three to four years," she says.

Customers accepted a $200 surcharge when the Far North District Council suspended bulk water sales at its Kerikeri reservoir earlier this month, forcing them to fill their tanker in Kaikohe.

"They wanted their water and they were happy to pay the extra.

"We charge $400 to deliver to Matauri Bay and Kaeo anyway."

Kaitaia Water Supplies says it is meeting most orders for bulk deliveries of water within days rather than weeks, despite also having its busiest summer.

"The longest people have waited is two to three days and I would say most contractors are the same," says Tina Bibb-Kirtlan who owns and runs the business with husband Mark.

The couple charge $250 to deliver 10,000 litres of water in Kaitaia, Taipa, Coopers Beach and Mangonui, but up to $750 for deliveries in places further afield, such as Kohukohu.

Council chief executive Dave Edmunds says the council has received several complaints about bulk water costs and delivery delays from households not connected to its water supplies.

The council charges operators a standard fee per cubic metre.

"Generally this amounts to about $40 per truckload, depending on the size of the truck - definitely not a money spinner for the council!"

- © Fairfax NZ News