Water-use fees on agenda

Christchurch residents could be charged for excessive water use under plans to conserve supplies.

The proposal is part of a series of measures being considered to curb Christchurch water consumption before the 2051 deadline when demand will outstrip the capacity of local aquifers.

Residents would be given a basic allocation of water each year, based on average consumption, and would be charged for water used over the allocation.

Water charging would be introduced if a range of other water-saving measures, including awareness campaigns, water-efficiency technology and greater use of rainwater, failed to curb consumption, council general manager of strategy and planning Michael Theelen said.

"It is not a priority option. We think we can focus more on things like improving security of supply and general efficiencies rather than going down the charging route," he said.

"But it has to remain an option for the future."

Theelen said a last resort was possible use of water from the Waimakariri River, pumped to the city and treated with chlorine to make it safe for consumption.

"Obviously, the priority must be for us to protect the aquifers. It is high-quality artesian water and a relatively cheap form of supply.

"It would be a very secondary outcome to take water from a different system."

If an aquifer was overburdened there was a risk it would lose pressure and become contaminated with seawater, he said.

A draft council water strategy will be considered by city councillors today and if approved will go out for public consultation.

Christchurch Combined Residents' Group chairman Ralph Ross said more detail was needed.

"The domestic front should not be the whipping horse for water costs. We need to know what the basic allocation is and how that will affect the community, particularly people with large families," he said.

The proposal is supported by environmental academics.

A study by environmental researcher Andrew Cook and published by Lincoln University this year found support for water charging.

A phone survey of 500 people found 91 per cent of respondents opposed chlorinated drinking water and 61% did not oppose a charging system.

Cook said this might change once a public debate about water charging began.

"Once people look into the issues and think it will cost them money it is a different story," he said.

"If it becomes a strategy the council wants to put in place, people will say we never had to pay for it before, so why should we now?"

Auckland and Nelson residents pay for water supply.

Christchurch has the third-highest water consumption per capita in New Zealand at 247 litres a day per person, behind Porirua at 352 and Tauranga at 250.7, last year's Quality of Life report says.

- © Fairfax NZ News