Kapiti water-saving moves go to court

ANDREW GORRIE/The Dominion Post

ON TAP: Kapiti Mayor Jenny Rowan with one of her greywater sprinklers that delivers waste water to the garden.

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Radical water-saving measures introduced on the Kapiti Coast are being contested by a local builder who is taking the district council to court.

A district plan change has made it compulsory for all new homes to have a water tank and/or greywater recycling system to help conserve water.

But design-build Home Creators owner Dave Smithson has appealed against the initiative to the Environment Court, saying it as unfair and inequitable.

The council decided in February last year that all new houses must either have a 10,000-litre rainwater tank or a 4500-litre tank and greywater system for garden irrigation.

Greywater systems recycle water from washing machines, kitchens and bathrooms for gardening and cleaning.

Independent commissioners recommended minor changes and the new rules were signed off last week.

They aim to reduce water consumption by 30 per cent, but mean residents will have to fork out an extra $10,000 to build granny flats, first homes and any other new houses.

Kapiti Mayor Jenny Rowan, who has a greywater system in her home, said the regulations were a first for the country.

"It sends a clear signal the council is serious about conserving and managing drinking-water supplies."

She said the measures would reduce outdoor use of drinkable water and extend the life of water-supply systems.

Frequent summer droughts prompted the council to develop a borefield as an extra supply, but complaints about the "foul-tasting" water had sparked calls for the council to build a reservoir or dam, or introduce water meters.

Mr Smithson accused the council of taking an easy option to deal with the district's "massive water problem".

"It is a nonsense plan change penalising people providing employment for the whole community."

Three of his clients had been forced to ditch plans for new homes because the extra cost tipped them over tight budgets.

"Compulsory water tanks are nonsense. The two months of the year we need tanks we have no rain. We are fighting it in the Environment Court because it is inequitable," he said.

Mr Smithson believed optional water meters would encourage residents to monitor and reduce water use.

Council spokesman Ken Smith said 250 homes built since February 2008 complied with the new regulations.

- © Fairfax NZ News